Nestled amid the pine-clad hills of Uttarakhand, Lansdowne stands apart from the usual hill stations of India. Far from the chaos of Nainital or Mussoorie, this quiet cantonment town thrives on discipline, cleanliness, and a unique model of governance. At the centre of this balance between development and ecology is Saquib Alam, an Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officer currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lansdowne Cantonment Board. His work here is a reminder that good governance need not be loud – it can be quietly effective, deeply people-centric, and rooted in environmental awareness.
Watch the interview here.
THE ROLE AND REACH OF AN IDES OFFICER
While the IAS and IPS often occupy the limelight in India’s civil services, IDES operates in the background, ensuring the country’s defence lands are managed efficiently and lawfully. Functioning under the Ministry of Defence, the service is responsible for overseeing nearly 18.5 lakh acres of land—making it the largest landholding managed by any ministry in India.
Explaining the unique nature of his service, Mr Alam shared with Indian Masterminds, “We are the custodians of everything the Ministry of Defence has.” IDES officers serve in two key roles – Defence Estates Officers (DEO) and Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of cantonment boards. As CEO, Mr Alam functions much like a District Collector and Municipal Commissioner rolled into one, handling civic amenities, land management, education, sanitation, and healthcare – often in remote and resource-limited zones that operate independently of state government control.
His journey into the service was unexpected. Growing up in Lucknow, Mr Alam often visited the local cantonment and admired its pristine order, believing it to be the result of district administration. When IDES appeared as his seventh preference in the UPSC list, he had little idea what awaited him—but upon allocation, he says, “I was thrilled. Not many know about IDES, but every choice matters.”
GOVERNANCE THAT TOUCHES LIFE
In Lansdowne – a Class 3 cantonment – Mr Alam’s daily routine spans diverse responsibilities, from overseeing schools and hospitals to environmental monitoring and digital record-keeping. Under his leadership, the local 33-bed cantonment hospital has evolved into a vital health hub, serving villages within a 45-kilometre radius. Through a ₹1.6-crore CSR initiative from the Power Finance Corporation, the hospital was recently upgraded with a minor operation theatre, mortuary, ambulance, and advanced medical equipment. It now offers Ayurveda, physiotherapy, dentistry, and telemedicine services, with special provisions for free senior citizen care and education programmes for Nepalese migrant labourers.
The results of Mr Alam’s approach are visible on the ground. Lansdowne was declared Uttarakhand’s Cleanest Cantonment this year, winning a ₹12.5-lakh award from the Chief Minister’s office – improving on last year’s second-place finish. Alam’s decision to share half of the previous award money directly with sanitation workers was both symbolic and motivational. “Each worker got around ₹7,000–8,000. They had never seen such recognition,” he recalls. The recognition came after a meticulous “gap analysis” across hundreds of Swachhata parameters and months of on-ground monitoring.
Visitors to Lansdowne often comment on its immaculate cleanliness and quiet charm. “VIPs tell us it’s the cleanest station they’ve seen,” IDES Saquib Alam says proudly.
SUSTAINABILITY FOR HILLS
For Mr Alam, environmental sustainability is not an abstract goal – it’s a daily administrative priority. Lansdowne’s fragile hill ecosystem faces increasing water stress and biodiversity loss due to climate change and tourism pressures. In response, Mr Alam and his team have launched several eco-restoration initiatives, which created 150 recharge pits to conserve surface runoff and boost groundwater tables.
Tree plantation drives have introduced 3,000 native species, such as deodar and oak, to replace invasive pine plantations. Miyawaki microforests have been developed to improve soil and air quality. Tourism, too, is being redefined—focusing on slow, low-impact travel rather than commercial expansion. “We promote eco-friendly tourism where people come to enjoy peace, not pollution,” Mr Alam explains.
Even during crises like summer forest fires, Mr Alam coordinates closely with local residents, NGOs, and volunteers. “We have limited resources, but strong community participation keeps us going,” he says.
He has also digitised century-old land records, transforming fragile handwritten registers into a searchable Excel matrix to streamline land mutation and verification processes. His office cleared ₹150 crore in pension arrears for employees, an achievement made possible through direct supervision and rigorous follow-up.
The e-Chhawani portal, an initiative of the Ministry of Defence, has been fully implemented in Lansdowne, ensuring transparency and accountability. “Complaints are resolved within a fixed timeline, and building plans get approved in a month,” he says.
Looking ahead, his plans include setting up a sewage treatment plant, multi-level parking, and scientific waste management systems to make Lansdowne a model eco-governed cantonment.
SERVICE BEYOND THE SPOTLIGHT
For UPSC aspirants, IDES often remains an overlooked service. But Alam believes it’s among the most fulfilling. “Don’t chase services; pursue opportunities to serve,” he advises. He points out that every service has its own impact – whether it’s IRTS running extra trains for the Ram Mandir or officers managing the Mahakumbh Mela.
“Integrity keeps you going amid pressures,” he says, adding that the joy of seeing direct results on the ground – cleaner streets, functioning hospitals, and happier citizens – is unmatched.
