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The impending merger of the Secunderabad Cantonment with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is expected to include specific stipulations. A recent communication from the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) mandates that construction on 'old grant' lands will still require prior approval from defence authorities. While municipal laws will govern the civil area, the DGDE clarified that any defence land subject to old grant terms will remain under military oversight. Local residents assert their ownership rights over these properties, pointing to historical documents from the Nizam era that support their claims.
The merger of the Secunderabad Cantonment with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is anticipated to come with specific conditions. A letter from the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) in New Delhi, dated July 12, has informed local Defence Estate officials that prior approval from defence authorities will still be necessary for construction activities on 'old grant' lands, even after the merger. Advertisement
The DGDE representative clarified that while municipal regulations will replace the Cantonment Act of 2006 in the civil areas, the building codes of the adjacent municipality will apply to these excised areas. However, any construction on defence land subject to old grant terms or leases will continue to require prior permission from the defence authorities.
Although the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the transfer of civil areas to the state municipality with local laws applicable, it reassured that the armed forces' security concerns will remain a top priority. Jeetendra Surana, secretary of the Secunderabad Cantonment Citizen's Welfare Association, stated, "Any restrictions placed by the MoD will be contested in court. There are no true old grant lands in Secunderabad; the lands are owned by the state government or private individuals, as established by previous court decisions."
Despite over 5,000 properties being classified as old grant lands, property owners maintain their rightful ownership, supported by documents from the Nizam era indicating that these lands were temporarily allocated to the British for troop deployment.
As the merger progresses, the intersection of local governance and military oversight will likely lead to legal challenges and disputes over property rights. Clear communication and collaboration among stakeholders will be essential to address these challenges and ensure a smooth transition to the new municipal framework.
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