Form panel to study problems in cantonments: MPs to Def Min

Several MPs and vice president of cantonment boards today requested Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to form a panel to study the problems in cantonment areas, including enhancing the representation of elected members in the boards and amendment of "outdated" laws.

Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah said the Badami Bagh cantonment was one of the most vulnerable" cantonments despite it not being near Pakistan border and was also under constant threat due to terrorism.

Most important thing is the security of the cantonment boards. Nowadays, we live in the world of terrorism. It can be anywhere and anyplace. We have to be very careful, he said.

He was speaking at an event at Raksha Sampada Bhawan where MPs from cantonment areas and vice president of cantonment boards were in attendance.

Abdullah appreciated the suggestion by some speakers of forming a committee to look into the issues related to cantonment areas and submission of the report within six months.

He said the laws governing cantonment areas have been in place since the days of the British and called for their amendment to make them relevant in the current situation.

Abdullah also raised the issue of non-functioning of Parliament, saying, Parliament did not run (in the Budget Session) and I don't see it functioning in the future also while this term of this Parliament is on.

He also called for strict action against the CEO of the cantonment board whenever there have been complaints against them.

Cantonment Board is a civic administration body under control of Ministry of Defence. The board comprise elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006.

New Delhi constituency MP Meenakshi Lekhi raised the issue of lack of amenities in the cantonment areas, saying the Army even objects to building toilets there.

Besides pitching for establishments of community centres, skill development and education centres, she lamented that central and state welfare schemes did not reach the people living in the cantonment areas.

Union minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said there had been instances when the roads were shut by the Army without informing the people, causing a lot of problem to the commuters.

Some of the speakers also raised the issue of increasing congestion due to population in the areas, lack of infrastructure facilities.

Union ministers Ram Kripal Yadav and Krishna Raj also spoke on the occasion.