In a notable development, 112 acres comprising residential zones, market areas, schools, and hospitals will be shifted from the Belgaum Cantonment Board to the Belgaum City Corporation. This includes 58.82 acres designated for markets and facilities like the Cantonment school, hospital, and government offices within the fort area. The proposal was reviewed during a recent board session, and a report will be forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for further consideration. A detailed meeting involving the Defence Ministry, State Government, and Cantonment Board is scheduled for July 16 to discuss the matter in depth.
CEO Rajeev Kumar stated that there are 61 Cantonment Boards nationwide, and their transfer process is progressing gradually. He highlighted that discussions have already occurred twice concerning the Belgaum Cantonment Board. The market zone will now be situated within municipal boundaries, although the Ministry of Defence will retain authority over land transactions and other dealings. A notification from the central government has been issued to formalize these changes.
A special meeting concerning the transfer took place on Saturday, July 6, at the Board Hall. Brigadier Joydeep Mukherjee chaired the meeting, which was attended by MP Jagdish Shettar, MP Iranna Kadadi, MLA Asif Seth, CEO Rajeev Kumar, and member Sudhir Tupekar. The Belgaum Cantonment Board comprises three divisions spanning 1,763 acres, of which 112 acres will be transferred to the Municipal Corporation. This area includes sections of the military base, market and residential zones, as well as the bungalow area.
58 acres of land will be transferred to the state government without cost, while the remaining 54 acres, housing a school, hospital, and central bus stand, will necessitate a deposit for the transfer. However, the bungalow area within the cantonment will continue under the jurisdiction of the Cantonment Board.
The current plan does not involve transferring the bungalow area within the fort and camp, which consists of more than 192 bungalows accommodating over two thousand residents. As a result, both bungalow owners and public representatives have requested that this area also be transferred to the municipal corporation. However, this request was explicitly denied, citing its status as part of the military zone.
However, only the residential section is slated for transfer. The area containing 192 bungalows will continue to be under the jurisdiction of the Defence Estate. This decision has been contested by Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), who advocated for the transfer of the entire bungalow area to the municipal corporation. Despite their objections, the military has declined to transfer the bungalow area.
Residents have voiced dissent over this decision, particularly regarding the fort’s camp area. They will have the opportunity to formally register their objections. MP Kadadi recommended that the meeting minutes accurately record these objections. More information and decisions are expected after the meeting scheduled for July 16.
