HYDERABAD: A general board meeting of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Brigadier Nanjudeshwar. The meeting was attended by MP Etela Rajender, nominated board member Bhanu Narmada, and Cantonment MLA Sri Ganesh.
The representatives engaged in extensive discussions with board officials on several pressing issues within the eight wards under the board’s jurisdiction. They emphasised that the responsibility for ensuring basic amenities such as roads, drinking water, sewerage, and electricity lay with the board.
A resolution was passed to form a committee comprising officials from CSIT, JNTU, HDMA, and the Cantonment engineering department to develop a special bylaws zoning plan for submission to the Ministry of Defence.
Key issues discussed included building bylaws within the cantonment, water supply during summer, power connections for borewells, service charges, and action against illegal constructions. MLA Sri Ganesh demanded that elected representatives such as MPs and MLAs be given voting rights in board decisions to ensure that citizens’ voices are represented.
He further stated that for long-standing issues to be resolved, either the board must be merged with the GHMC or immediate elections should be held, allowing residents a platform to raise their concerns. He also insisted that the exact dues under service charges be determined and a board resolution passed accordingly.
The meeting was attended by Board CEO Madhukar Naik, Water Works Officer Raj Kumar, Health Superintendent Devender, Chief Planner Umashankar, and Phani Kumar.
Speaking at the meeting, Malkajgiri MP Etela Rajender noted that numerous restrictions are imposed on individuals constructing houses within the cantonment. He said that changes by the Defence Ministry are gradually making the approval process easier.
Addressing the media on the board premises, he criticised former administrators for converting a community hall used for weddings by the poor in Gandhi Auditorium, Lal Bazar, into a dumping yard. He pledged to restore it as a beautiful park and wedding venue for underprivileged families.
He instructed officials to relocate the current dump yard elsewhere and highlighted the need to simplify construction permissions. He suggested raising FSI (Floor Space Index) limits and easing restrictions to enable larger home construction, especially for those with more land. He also expressed concern over illegal constructions and bribery, calling for central government proposals to end such practices.
Rajender stated that proposals had been sent to the Defence Ministry to ease restrictions and align construction approvals with residents’ needs. He added that the state government owed ₹190 crore to the board, and the release of these funds would significantly boost development.
He promised to secure maximum funds from the Defence Ministry and accused the state government of stalling development by withholding cantonment-related funds. He committed to using MP funds for comprehensive development of all colonies in the area and criticised the state government for misleading the public by blaming the BJP despite failing to fulfil its own promises.
MLA Sri Ganesh, speaking to the media, echoed the demand for cantonment elections, arguing that only elected representation could ensure proper infrastructure and civic services for the eight wards. He criticised the CEO’s statement that there were no funds to provide basic amenities like electricity bills for borewells.
He blamed past MLAs and board members for converting community halls into dumping yards and insisted that the region’s civic issues would only be resolved through elections or a merger with the state government. He demanded that the central government grant voting rights to MPs and MLAs in board matters and accused the BJP-led Centre of failing to provide basic amenities while distracting public attention.
