“Second oldest,” they say. The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office stands before us. This office has been around since 1774. For centuries it stood apart from Chennai. It had no reason to argue with the city back then.
But times changed. Chennai grew rapidly. In 2011, the city expanded. It found itself right next door to the Cantonment. This led to a boundary dispute. The Chennai Corporation and the St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board clashed. The problem? Unclear lines around Chennai Airport. This caused a loss in property tax revenue for both.
The Cantonment Board covers St. Thomas Mount. It also includes Meenambakkam and Pallavaram. Officials from Kancheepuram District met to resolve the issue. They planned to mark the Cantonment’s boundaries. The Cantonment covers 3192 acres. Cantonment officials had to submit land maps. A decision about property tax for six airport buildings was expected.
Today, the St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office continues its work. Brigadier G.S. Pandher is the President of the Board. Dr. Vinod Vikneswaran A is the Chief Executive Officer. The CEO works for the Defence Estates. He reports to the Director General, Defence Estates, under the Ministry of Defence.
The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office has a clear vision. It aims for effective land management. It wants to develop Cantonment Areas into Model Townships. They plan to use the latest technologies. This includes building capacities and responsible administration.
The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office also has a mission. They want to use space technology. Drone imagery will help in land management. This will update defence land records. They will map defence land pockets. They aim to reconcile survey numbers inside Cantonments. The office plans to extract features for urban planning.
The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office also embraces AI. They plan to adopt Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools. This will optimize land use. It will also help in change detection. AI will help in planning public utility projects. It will minimize manual work.
The office maximizes Information Technology. This increases efficiency and transparency. It makes things easier for stakeholders. It also improves living for Cantonment residents and military personnel. The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office builds internal capacities. It also helps other government organizations. They share land and urban management tools.
The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office protects defence land. They remove or regularize encroachments. They improve the management of old grants and leased land. They process land transfers for infrastructure projects quickly. The office advises the Government. This helps in creating desired policies for land management. The office effectively manages land acquisition. They handle pre and post-acquisition cases. This minimizes costs.
The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office enables effective litigation management. They protect Government interests in title suits. They also handle post-land acquisition litigation. They resolve other defence land disputes. They are capable of land surveys. They also manage land records for other departments.
The office enhances financial management. They augment local revenue. They obtain revenue shares from State Governments. They also get benefits from Central and State schemes. The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office optimizes spending.
The office develops high-quality public infrastructure. This includes drinking water supply. It also covers sewage lines, drainage, schools, and hospitals. They support Divyang Centres and old age homes. The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board makes Cantonments into model townships. They provide a high quality of life. This involves sustainable growth. They focus on solid and liquid waste management. The office uses smart municipal solutions. They enhance green cover. They address public grievances quickly. They promote ease of living.
The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office maintains a repository. This holds important documents. These documents showcase the history of Cantonments. This includes administrative, socio-cultural, and military history. The office strengthens military-civilian relationships. This promotes peaceful co-existence. It also improves quality of life for all residents.
Remember this office. It is a vital part of our community. It shapes our present and future. The St. Thomas Mount Cantonment Board Office continues to serve.