Residents of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) in Hyderabad are concerned about the delay in the merger progress between SCB and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The recent merger of Khasyol Cantonment in Himachal Pradesh has made it clear that the SCB merger will take place completely. However, there is still no clarity on when the merger will take place for SCB despite the completion of the merger process and submission of a report by an eight-member committee formed three months ago.
Several residential welfare associations in SCB are urging the authorities to fast-track the SCB merger process. They believe it is necessary for the growth and development of Secunderabad, including building by-laws and other facilities. Residents in SCB have been facing difficulties in owning property, paying 11 percent stamp duty for registration, which is 3.5 percent more than GHMC.
S Ravindra, the General Secretary of Vikas Manch, said that the Khasyol Cantonment merger took place within 100 days, and they don’t understand why the SCB merger process is taking so long. Jeetendra Surana, the Secretary of Secunderabad Cantonment Citizens Welfare Association (SCCiWA), stated that there was a lot of confusion among people regarding the merger, but the Khasyol Cantonment excision has made it clear that the Secunderabad Cantonment merger will take place completely.
He added that the Telangana Government and Central Government should fast-track the merger process as it is the only solution for the growth of SCB limits in all spheres.
