Joint survey underway for excising Subathu

Ambika Sharma

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Solan, February 18

A joint survey was conducted by the civil and defence authorities at Subathu cantonment to finalise the ongoing excising exercise.

Aimed at merging civilan areas in the cantonments with nearby civic bodies or panchayats, this exercise is underway at Kasauli, Dagshai, Subathu, Jutogh, Bakloh and Dalhousie cantonments in the state.

Will reap benefits of govt schemes

• The committee elicited views of all concerned to finalise the proposed exercise. Once excluded, the residents of the civilan areas will be able to reap the benefits of various state government schemes. Basic problems like repair of roads, upgrade of civic amenities like water, sewerage, etc. in civilian areas would be dealt with by the state government agencies.

Dr Punam, SDM Solan, who headed the committee, informed that various civilian pockets like Ravi Dass market, Sadar bazar, etc., which are proposed to be merged with the nearby areas, were examined at Subathu cantonment.

“Public representatives, officials of Subathu cantonment, pradhans of nearby panchayats, Block Development Officer, staff of departments like education, health, Jal Shakti, Public Works, Revenue, etc. were also present in this preliminary exercise. Discussions were held on the draft proposal submitted by the defence authorities for excising Subathu,” informed the SDM. “Since some key public utility areas have been left out of the proposal sent by the cantonment, a request would be made to the MoD to include them as well,” added the official.

The committee elicited views of all concerned to finalise the proposed exercise. Once excluded, the residents of the civilan areas will be able to reap the benefits of various state government schemes. Basic problems like repair of roads, upgrade of civic amenities like water, sewerage, etc. in civilian areas would be dealt with by the state government agencies.

A majority of these towns have recorded low growth rate ranging from -8.99 to 27.13 per cent as per the 2001 Census. Only Subathu and Jutog cantonments have witnessed higher growth rates of 54.56 per cent and 47.74 per cent, respectively. The popular town of Kasauli recorded a growth rate of mere 13.79 per cent

The state government had been directed by the Ministry of Defence to work out the modalities for the excision of civil area which include issues like transfer of land and immovable assets, cantonment board employees, pensioners, cantonment funds, civic services, movable properties, stores, records, etc.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has constituted a seven-member committee headed by Joint Secretary to work out the modalities of excising civilian areas in six cantonment towns of Himachal Pradesh in August 2023.

Key issues like whether the staff deputed in these boards would be absorbed in the state government cadre were yet to be decided. Office staff of the cantonment board, doctors in the cantonment hospital and staff of various schools are likely to be absorbed in the state government along with the school and hospital buildings which lie in the civilian areas.