Jammu, Mar 8 (UNI) The CPI (M) legislator Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami on Saturday alleged that the administration has violated the norms while making allotment of land to former cricketer from Sri Lanka Muttiah Muralidharan for establishing a bottling plant at an industrial estate in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Law of land is equally applicable to all whether big man or a small man," Tarigami told reporters outside the Legislative Assembly.
Earlier in the House, Tarigami raised a supplementary question on this along with criteria for allotment of five marlas of land for construction of residential house.
He said, "Norms have been violated and this is what I am talking about. Land has to be allotted as per the laid norms to any person whosoever apply for land for commercial purposes."
Tarigami added, "I am not questioning the person but the norms have not been followed by the administration and completely violated."
"I am not satisfied with the reply from the Minister in charge. We have asked for half an hour discussion on this matter on the floor of the House," said the legislator.
"We will again raise the issue during grants. Everyone must be treated equally as per the law whenever land is allotted," said the MLA.
"As per my information, I am categorically saying that as per my information, no money has been charged from the cricketer for the allotment," he alleged and said that the government must clarify whether his information was right or wrong.
Congress MLA G A Mir along with others, also raised concern and demanded a discussion on this, he said adding, "it is an important question and the House must allow the discussion."
"The land belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and for sale purpose either to a local or a non-local, all norms should be followed," said Tarigami.
Muttiah Muralitharan's Ceylon Beverages has been allotted 206 kanals of land to set up a Rs 1,600 crore aluminum cans manufacturing and beverages filling unit in Kathua. The lease deed was executed with the department on June 14, 2024.
The administration has cleared the decks to investment proposals of worth Rs 18,000 crore in the Kathua district—the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir—the work on which has already started on ground—the Bhagthali Industrial Estate investment worth Rs 13000 crores having a potential to generate employment for more than 17000 persons, will be transforming the border district into an industrial hub.
Situated in district Kathua, that connects the neighbouring states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh—the Bhagthali Industrial Estate coming up in two phases on 3322 kanals of land with an investment of Rs 13009.13 crores.
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