Discretionary functions of Board

Section 64 of the Cantonments Act, 2006 deals with discretionary functions of Board. A Board may, within the cantonment, make provision for-- (i) laying out in areas, whether previously built upon or not, new streets, and acquiring land for that purpose and for the construction of buildings, and compounds of buildings, to about on such streets; The Act came into force on 18 Dec 2006.

(1) A Board may, within the cantonment, make provision for--

(i) laying out in areas, whether previously built upon or not, new streets, and acquiring land for that purpose and for the construction of buildings, and compounds of buildings, to about on such streets;

(ii) constructing, establishing or maintaining public parks, gardens, offices, dairies, bathing or washing places, drinking fountains, tanks, wells and other works of public utility;

(iii) reclaiming unhealthy localities;

(iv) furthering educational objects by measures other than the establishment and maintenance of primary schools;

(v) setting up or supporting higher schools, colleges and vocational, professional and special education;

(vi) constructing, and maintaining works and structures, including rainwater harvesting, for providing supply of water for public and private purposes;

(vii) constituting, maintaining and managing supply and distribution of electricity, including by exploiting non-conventional energy sources, to public and private premises;

(viii) taking a census and granting rewards for information which may tend to secure the correct registration of vital statistics;

(ix) making a survey;

(x) giving relief on the occurrence of local epidemics, floods, famines or other natural calamities by the establishment or maintenance of relief work or otherwise;

(xi) securing or assisting to secure suitable places for the carrying on of any offensive dangerous or obnoxious trade, calling or occupation;

(xii) establishing and maintaining a farm or other place for the disposal of sewage;

(xiii) constructing, subsidising or guaranteeing tramways or other means of locomotion, and electric lighting or electric power work;

(xiv) establishing and maintaining cattle pounds;

(xv) arranging for civic reception with prior approval of the Officer Commanding the Station;

(xvi) providing housing accommodation for any class of inhabitants;

(xvii) conservation and maintenance of ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites and remains or place of public importance in the cantonment;

(xviii) developing land resources under the management of the Board;

(xix) preparing and implementing group housing schemes;

(xx) establishing and undertaking remunerative projects;

(xxi) developing small-scale and cottage industries;

(xxii) developing expertise in different areas of urban governance and local self-government to and able to provide consultancy to other Municipal and Development Authorities;

(xxiii) adopting any measure, other than a measure specified in section 62 or in the foregoing provisions of this section likely to promote the safety, health or convenience of the inhabitants of the cantonment;

(xxiv) establishing and maintaining or supporting libraries, museums, art galleries, botanical or zoological collections;

(xxv) establishing and maintaining or supporting stadia, gymnasia, akharas and places for sports and games;

(xxvi) establishing theatres and cinemas;

(xxvii) organising and managing fairs and exhibitions;

(xxviii) constructing and maintaining:--

(a) rest-houses;

(b) poor-houses;

(c) infirmaries;

(d) children's home;

(e) houses for deaf and dumb and for disabled and handicapped children;

(f ) shelters for destitute and disabled persons;

(g) asylums for persons of unsound mind;

(h) old age homes;

(i) working women's hostels;

(xxix) establishing and managing chemical or bacteriological laboratories for the examination or analysis of water, food and drugs for the detection of diseases or research connected with the public health or medical relief;

(xxx) providing relief to destitute and disabled persons;

(xxxi) establishing and maintaining veterinary hospitals;

(xxxii) constructing and maintaining warehouses and godowns;

(xxxiii) constructing and managing garages, sheds and stands for vehicles and cattle sheds;

(xxxiv) constructing and managing community halls and convention halls;

(xxxv) holding seminars, workshops, public debates, and similar activities particularly on issues and rules and regulations of civic importance.

"Explanation".--For the purposes of clause (xvii)--

(a) "conservation" means the supervision, management and maintenance of a place to retain its historical, architectural, aesthetic or cultural significance or of environment and includes the protection, improvement, preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adoption or a combination of more than one of these activities, and the use of such place in a way that ensures the social as well as economic benefits;

(b) "ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites and remains or place of public importance" include buildings, arte facts, structures, areas, or precincts of historical or aesthetical or educational or scientific or cultural or environmental significance, and those natural features of environmental signifcance or scenic beauty, as may be declared by the Board.

(2) A Board may, either within or outside the cantonment, make provision for the doing of anything on which expenditure is declared by the Central Government, or by the Board with the sanction of the Central Government, to be an appropriate charge on the cantonment fund or the cantonment development fund.

Section 64, The Cantonments Act, 2006 (Act 41 of 2006).