Move afoot to reorganise Cantt areas in city

SHILLONG, June 1: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has constituted a committee to propose modalities for exclusion of civil areas from the purview of the Shillong Cantonment Board (SCB).
An office memorandum issued recently referred to a letter from the MoD in this regard and said that a committee has been constituted to look into the details of proposed modalities for exclusion of land and immovable assets, SCB employees, pensioners, civic services, movable properties and stores, road management and traffic, records, etc., and submit its report to the MoD.
The Additional Financial Adviser (EL) & Joint Secretary of the MoD (Finance) will be the chairperson of the committee while the Joint Secretary (Lands & Works) of the Ministry, a representative from Meghalaya, Addl. DG (LWE) from Army HQ, Addl. DG (Cantonments), DG of Defence Establishments, Director of Defence Establishments, Eastern Command, Kolkata, and President of Shillong Cantonment Board, will be the members of the committee.
Commissioner & Secretary of Urban Affairs Department, Vijay Kumar will represent the state in the committee while the Chief Executive Officer, SCB, will be the member secretary.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the Ministry within one month.
Elated over the development, the Shillong Cantonment Lease Holders Association has announced a meeting at Jhalupara community hall on June 4 to discuss the merger of the SCB with the Shillong Municipal Board.
South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai is slated to attend the meeting.