Govt keen on completing GHMC, Cantt merger: CS

Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari informed that the Telangana government is keen to complete the process of merger of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) with the Secunderabad Cantonment quickly.  Union Defence Secretary A Giridhar on Tuesday held a video conference with senior officials of various State governments and discussed the modalities for excision of civil areas from the limits of cantonments and merging them with municipalities.  
He asked the State government officials to expedite the process of excision of civil areas in the cantonment areas at the earliest as the Union government is determined to abolish the cantonment boards which are the legacies of the British rule in India.
Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari said that the State government has already conveyed its concurrence to the proposal of the Union government for excision of civil areas of Secunderabad Cantonment Board and merge them with the GHMC.  She however noted that the committee constituted by the Central government to finalise the modalities for removal of civil areas has not yet shared its report with the State government.  
The State government will work closely with the Central government to expedite the process quickly, she added.
Principal Secretary (MAUD) Danakishore, officials from the municipal administration and Cantonment Board attended the video conference.