Stage set for smart cantonment mission

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 19

After losing in the race to get included in the Smart Cantonment Mission last year, the Jalandhar Cantonment Board (JCB) has once again geared up to join the contest for cantonments launched by the Ministry of Defence.

Jalandhar Cantonment Board CEO Meenakshi Lohia said the JCB had been asked to submit the master plans elaborating the incorporation of latest techniques involved in solar power projects, underground drainage system, sewerage treatment plants and LED street lights.

“We were also asked to elaborate on our plan about the introduction of modern transport system, digital method of preparing certificates, solid waste management, water supply, advanced traffic systems, robust IT connectivity as well as digitalisation, e-governance and other parameters involved in providing technologically oriented core infrastructure to residents,” said Lohia.

Although the authorities here had participated in the smart cantonment contest organised by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) last year, except for Ferozepur, no other cantonment from Punjab could meet the parameters sought by the MoD.

However, Lohia claims that JCB has got a good chance to get enlisted in the mission this time as it had undertaken a lot of development works in the area.

“Under the e-governance project, the JCB had already done 100 per cent computerisation of the birth and death records. We are soon going to provide online facility of paying property and water charges to our residents,” said Lohia.

Last year, after the JCB lost the smart cantonment race, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan programme had assured to provide a grant of Rs 97 lakh to the cantonment board to install LED lights in the area. However, the funds have not been released till date, officials said.

According to board vice president Sneh Gupta, the inclusion of Jalandhar in the smart cantonment mission would bring relief to residents. “Even in this era of information technology, the residents are struggling to get mobile towers installed in the cantonment area. Despite the state-of-the-art sports facilities available to the defence personnel inside the cantonment, there is not even a single stadium for civilians. The hospital also needs upgrade,” said Sneh Gupta. The board is now hopeful of relief by getting enlisted in the smart cantonment mission this year.