The cantonment administration could not get freehold status for their lands from the Sadar Municipal Committee (SMC), despite several assurances by the government. The total land measures 1100 acres.

The decision to declare the entire area freehold has been confined to files since 1977 and the respective governments have been assuring the residents of doing the needful but in vain.

Said Ambala Cantonment MLA DK Bansal, "The government is aware of the problems of the residents. Without freehold status nobody can officially go for any kind of construction and expansion activities."

During the British rule in India, the entire town was under the control of Cantonment Board, which used to collect rent from the occupants. Of this, 1100 acres of area was handed over to the Sadar Municipal Committee, which was constituted in 1977 and has been collecting rent from those occupying the area for residential as well as commercial purposes.

The residents have been demanding ownership of the places where they are staying for the past several years like a tenant and blame the government and bureaucrats as well as political leaders for not taking any action in this regard, except doling out false assurances.

However, with the efforts of former MLA Anil Vij, then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had declared 6,000 square yard commercial area having 365 shops on the Railway Road and Roy Market freehold and given to the occupants on nominal charges in 2002 and 2003.

Anil Vij has said that Om Prakash Chautala had promised to declare the remaining 1,100 acres freehold, but it could not be done as the government in the state was changed.

"The land in Ambala Cantonment will be made freehold soon, assured Bansal: This is the main issue for the public of Ambala Cantonment. The state government is aware of our demand and we hope it will take serious action in this regard."