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The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recently issued a warning to Cantonment officials, urging them to refrain from harassing owners of buildings on leased land parcels and old grant bungalows (OGBs). Despite this directive, property owners in Secunderabad Cantonment, both residential and commercial, claim that they are unable to undertake even minor repairs due to ongoing harassment.
The MoD, in an order directed to the chief executive officers (CEOs) of cantonment boards and defense estates officers (DEOs), has advised field officers in the engineering wing to sensitize their staff and ensure that citizens are not subjected to any form of harassment.
Property owners have allegedly been facing harassment from officials of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) and DEOs, even for simple tasks such as minor repairs, internal alterations, building parapet walls, repairing staircases, white washing, re-flooring, and patchwork.
The lack of a complaint mechanism for such harassment has reportedly led some property owners to resort to bribing the staff in order to have their repairs undertaken. This issue is particularly troubling for owners of OGBs, as they face harassment even when attempting to make alterations to their bungalows, which were built during the British era.
In response to these grievances, the All Cantonments Citizen's Welfare Association, a group comprising members from all 62 cantonment boards, raised the issue with the MoD back in 2019 and urged the authorities to put an end to the harassment. Subsequently, the MoD established an expert committee to study the functioning of cantonment boards and address this specific issue. After conducting an extensive study, the committee submitted a report which recommended that citizens should not be required to seek permission from defense authorities for repairs in Cantonment areas.
Taking into consideration the committee's recommendations, the MoD issued orders in 2019 and identified certain works that could be undertaken without seeking permission from Cantonment authorities. However, despite these orders, instances of harassment continue to persist.
One leaseholder of an OGB at Sikh Village shared their experience, stating that they were met with immediate opposition when they began repairing a parapet wall. Within hours, SCB officials arrived at the location and warned the occupants that no alterations could be made without the necessary permissions from the relevant authorities. SCB officials, on the other hand, have refuted the allegations of harassment made by property owners.
The ongoing harassment faced by property owners in Secunderabad Cantonment highlights the need for greater attention to this issue. While the MoD has taken some steps to address the problem, it is evident that further action is required to ensure that property owners can undertake necessary repairs and alterations without unnecessary interference. By effectively implementing the committee's recommendations and establishing a robust complaint mechanism, the MoD and Cantonment officials can work together to protect the rights and interests of property owners in Cantonment areas. Such measures would not only alleviate the burden on property owners but also foster a more harmonious relationship between the authorities and citizens within the Cantonments.
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