Leave cantonments alone

The decision to open military cantonments to the public and allow them free access may seem like an egalitarian move. But it does not augur well for these enclaves, which are often the size of a small town.

Converting cantonment roads into open thoroughfares raises security concerns since it makes them vulnerable soft targets. Having grown up in cantonments I know that the safety offered in these enclaves is important for soldiers and their families. When military personnel are posted in forward areas or in non-family stations, the knowledge that their families are living in the safety of a cantonment is a source of comfort. Army wives orchestrating a signature campaign for a roll-back of the order is understandable.

Although the Army has now said that a decision on opening these roads will be taken only after consulting the local military authorities, it amounts to a weak assurance. A recent meeting convened by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman decided to throw open access to closed cantonment roads.

It is not the first time that such a demand has been raised by politicians. When Sharad Pawar was Defence Minister in the early 1990s, he mooted the idea of not only opening cantonments to the public but also of utilising “excess land”. He was dismissive of these enclaves as “remnants of a colonial past.” However, he later changed his mind. Some 25 years later, the Defence Ministry has taken the first step towards opening up cantonments without any public discussion.

There are many who suspect that converting cantonments into public thoroughfares will be followed by according permission to commercially exploit “excess land”. What critics foresee is not only an increase in civilian traffic — in itself not such a bad thing if regulated — but an onslaught by the land mafia translating into a rash of high rise buildings and commercial establishments.

Preeti Mehra Editorial Consultant

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