Pune, Khadki, Dehu road cantts to get special state funds: minister Girish Bapat

The state cabinet, on Tuesday, decided to allocate special funds for the development of seven cantonment board areas across the state. The list includes, three cantonments from Pune: Dehu road, Khadki and Pune Cantonment.

Girish Bapat, district guardian minister and minister for legislative affairs, said developments funds will be made available to the seven cantonments comprising Dehu road, Khadki, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Deolali, Pune Cantonment and Kamthi. Each of these cantonments will be given ₹5 crore on behalf of the government every year.

He added that the special funds have been allotted on behalf of the state to strengthen the local self governments across Maharashtra. 

Bapat pointed out that Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Pune, Khadki and Dehu road cantonments fall under the jurisdiction of metropolitan area of the municipal corporations and will get funds from the urban development department, while Deolali and Kamthi will get funds from the municipal councils as they are under municipal council areas. 

According to Bapat, the implementation of the scheme will start soon. There has been a constant demand from elected members of Legislative Assembly ( MLA’s) and member of Parliament (MP) seeking more funds for the development of cantonment areas and we do not want the cantonment areas to suffer due to lack of funds, Bapat said.

Bapat added that he actively followed up the issue with the chief minister, who in return, took keen follow up with the defence ministry. Since the funds would be allocated from the state government, the district collectorate would have complete control over the allocation of the funds. 

The funds will be utilised for developing road infrastructure, water supply, sanitation and hygiene projects in the cantonment areas.