Disbanding Cantonments: What Does It Mean?

• The Indian Army and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) will exert sole control over these transformed military stations.
• The corresponding civilian territories will be incorporated into the local municipalities.
• The army has previously moved towards this concept by establishing 237 exclusive military stations.

Cantonments: Tracing Back to the Colonial Era

• Army cantonments have been a part of India's landscape for over 250 years, a legacy from the colonial era.
• The British established the first such cantonment at Barrackpore.
• The number of such establishments increased from 56 in 1947 to 62 in later years.
• These are regulated under the Central Cantonment Act, outside the purview of the municipalities.

Why the Move to Disband Cantonments?

• The MoD intends to secure, develop, and maintain the 1.6L acres of land that constitute the cantonment areas.
• The move aims to streamline land management and deter encroachments.
• It also aims to resolve administrative and governance conflicts with civilian authorities.
• It is expected to reduce disputes and ensure optimal utilization of budgets for the area.

Previous Attempts and Criticisms

• In 2018, the MoD proposed a plan to excise civil areas of cantonments and transform military pockets into military stations.
• Similar initiatives were criticized for being a potential avenue for political and industrial lobbies to exploit the valuable lands around major cities for business purposes.
• However, the MoD has assured that the move will enable civilian areas to benefit from welfare schemes run by the government through municipalities.