RAWALPINDI, May 4: The National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) has completed work on the mode of local government (LG) system in cantonments, Dawn has learnt.

Under the new system, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) will be named as Cantonment Tehsil Administration (CTA), headed by an elected Nazim. The CTA will, however, be an independent body and out of the control of the district Nazim.

The chief executive officer will be called cantonment coordination officer (CCO) with duties similar to those of the district coordination officer of Rawalpindi.

There will be four cantonment officers under the CCO to manage the affairs of different CTA departments. The overall charge will, however, remain with the army station commander.

Reliable sources said the NRB officials had been facing difficulties in devising a method for keeping the balance of power between the army officials and the elected representatives of the cantonments.

An RCB official, however, said the LG system would not be a smooth-sailing as the army authorities would seldom listen to the elected representatives. The army will never leave the cantonment affairs at the disposal of the councillors nor allow them so much freedom, he said, adding that it would be a sort of controlled democracy.

According to the sources, the plan to bifurcate the RCB was likely to be cancelled after the introduction of the local government system.

They said the cantonment’s bifurcation after the introduction of the devolution plan would result in the creation of two cantonment tehsil administrations. The setting up of two Tehsils, they added, would be of no use and create complications.

The plan to divide the RCB into Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments was envisaged by the cantonment authorities due to difficulties being faced in managing the affairs of such a huge area and population.

The bifurcation plan was approved by the director-general military lands and cantonments, Rawalpindi corpse commander and the army chief. At present, the case is lying with the law ministry.