Pune: MLA Shirole Puts Forth Issue Of Lack Of Funds In Cantonment Boards During Assembly Session
Pune, 29th December 2022: MLA Siddharth Shirole demanded in the Legislative Assembly today (Thursday) that the Maharashtra state government should provide substantial funds every year for the infrastructural development of Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) and other six cantonment boards in Maharashtra.
KCB is an urban local body which falls under the jurisdiction of Pune city. Until March 2013, the Khadki Cantonment Board was receiving octroi tax of Rs two crore per month from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). But in April 2013, the octroi tax was discontinued and local body tax (LBT) was implemented. Since then, the source of income of the Khadki Cantonment Board has decreased. After that, GST came into effect on 1st July 2017.
The Maharashtra government has included all Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra in the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Compensation Act 2017 but excluded the seven Cantonment Boards of Maharashtra. Due to this, the Khadki Cantonment Board is not getting any funds for the development works, and the citizens are suffering. Any facilities of the state government and municipal corporation do not apply to the local citizens there.
Khadki Cantonment Board is located between Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Cities are growing on both sides, due to which all the traffic load is falling on the roads. Due to the lack of road widening, there is traffic jams on the roads.
Shirole pointed out that even though there is a need for flyovers to solve traffic congestion, they are not being built due to a lack of funds.
Will the state government include the six cantonment boards of Maharashtra along with Khadki in the GST Compensation Act 2017, until this decision is taken, will the state government provide financial assistance to the Cantonment Boards on the same lines as it provides financial assistance to many Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra? And through the Urban Development Department, will all the seven Cantonment Boards of Maharashtra be given substantial funds every year for development works? Shirole questioned.
The government of Maharashtra decided on 22nd October 2018 to provide infrastructure to seven Cantonment Boards in Maharashtra. Minister Uday Samant assured that due justice will be given to the Khadki Cantonment Board by including the Khadki Cantonment Board following this decision.
MLA Shirole read out the problems in the Khadki Cantonment Board in the Assembly. Drinking water lines in the Khadki area are 60 years old. They are also not changed. Due to this, citizens often get an impure water supply. Roads, drainage, electricity, water supply, hospitals, employees’ salary, pensions, and other facilities are not provided. Residents of Khadki Cantonment Board limits are facing a lot of inconveniences.
Shirole pointed out to the House that this situation is not only in Khadki but also in the other six Cantonment Boards in Maharashtra.
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