CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS.

 

 

         There are a total of 62 Cantonments in the Country. Most these cantonments were established by the British Government to quarter the troops in a clean and healthy environment. Cantonments which originated purely for the troops gradually started to have civilian population to serve the needs of the troops like housing and other basic amenities.

 

         Belgaum Cantonment was established in the year 1832 and has been in existence ever since. Cantonment is administered by a Board established under the Cantonments Act 1924. Vide section 11 of the said act, Every Cantonment Board shall, by the name of the place by reference to which the Cantonment is known, be a  Body Corporate having Perpetual succession and common seal with power to acquire and hold property both moveable and immoveable and to contract and shall by the said name, sue and be sued.

 

         Cantonments are divided into three classes namely:

        

  1. Class I cantonments where civil population exceeds 10,000
  2. Class II cantonments where the civil population is between 2,500 and 10,000
  3. Class III cantonments where civil population does not exceed 2,500

 

Based on the above classification, Belgaum Cantonment is a Class I Cantonment. By virtue of its being a Class I Cantonment its Constitution as per Cantonments Act 1924 is as follows:

 

(a)      the Officer Commanding the station or, if the Central Government so directs in respect of any cantonment, such other military officer as may be nominated in his place by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Command;

(b)      an Executive Magistrate nominated by District Magistrate;

(c)      the Health Officer;

(d)      the Executive Engineer;

(e)        four military officers nominated by name by the Officer Commanding the station by order in writing;

(f)      seven members elected under the Cantonments Act, 1924.

 

 

         However the Constitution of the Cantonment Board can be varied by the Central Government. If the Central Government is satisfied that by reason of military operations it is necessary or for the administration of the Cantonment it is desirable to vary the constitution of the Board, it may by notification in the official gazette make a declaration to that effect.

 

         If such a declaration is made the constitution of the Board shall be as follows

 

(a)      the Officer commanding the Station

(b)      one military officer nominated by name by the Officer commanding the Station

(c)      one member not being in the service of the Government nominated by the Central Government in consultation

          with the GOC-in-C, the Command.

        

Presently, the constitution of the Board has been varied by the Central Government wef 3rd March 2003 and subsequently vide various gazette notifications, the term of the Varied Board has been extended upto 30th June 2006 or the date of constitution of Board under section 13 of the Act whichever is earlier.

 

An officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service is appointed by the Central government as the Executive Officer of the Cantonment. He is responsible, amongst others, for executing all works approved by the Board, controlling and supervising all staff of the Cantonment Board, day to day activities of the Board and also to act as the Secretary to the Board.

 

 

 DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD

 

(i)             lighting streets and other public places;

(ii)           watering streets and other public places;

(iii)          cleansing streets, public places and drains, abating nuisances and removing noxious vegetation;

(iv)          regulating offensive, dangerous or obnoxious trades, callings and practices;

(v)           removing , on the ground of public safety, health or convenience,undesirable obstructions and projections in streets and other public places;

(vi)          securing or removing dangerous buildings and places;

(vii)        acquiring, maintaining, changing and regulating places for the disposal of the dead;

(viii)       constructing, altering and maintaining streets, culverts, bridges, causeways, markets, slaughter-houses, latrines, privies, urinals, drains, drainage works and sewerage works and regulating their use;

(ix)          planting and maintaining trees on roadsides and other public places;

(x)            providing or arranging for a sufficient supply of pure and wholesome water, where such supply does not

           exist, guarding from pollution water used for human consumption, and preventing polluted water from being so used;

(xi)          registering births and deaths;

(xii)         preventing and checking spread of dangerous diseases; establishing and maintaining a system of public vaccination and inoculation

(xiii)       establishing and maintaining or supporting public hospitals , maternity and child welfare centres and dispensaries, and providing public medical relief;

(xiv)       establishing and maintaining or assisting primary schools;

(xv)         rendering assistance in extinguishing fires, and protecting light and property when fire occurs;

(xvi)       maintaining and developing the value of property vested in, or entrusted to, the management of the Board;

(xvii)      establishing and maintaining civil defence services;

(xviii)    preparing and implementing town planning schemes;

 

 

 

 

 

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