Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: The Government today admitted on the floor of the Upper House that about 2518 kanals of land at Lassipora Industrial Estate in Kashmir has been encroached upon by some people.
While replying to the question of BJP member, Surinder Mohan Ambardar and supplementary of NC member Showkat Hussain Ganai, in the Legislative Council today, the Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga disclosed that 6193 kanals of land was transferred for establishment of Lassipora Industrial Estate in 1984. Out of which 3675 Kanals of land has been handed over to SIDCO. He said the rest of the land was never handed over to them by the concerned revenue authorities.
When the BJP member asked why the facts were being concealed while the fact remains that rest of the land has been encroached upon. He also claimed that as per his information more than 1500 kanals of this Government land ment for Industrial Estate has been grabbed by some people.
Ganai stood up and said that out of 6193 kanals of land only 3675 was lying with the Government. The Industry Minister should tell about the fate of remaining 2518 kanals of land. Under whose possession that land was lying since long and what steps have been taken by the department to retrieve that land.
The Minister then admitted that they had only 3675 kanals of land and rest of it was not handed over to them and major portion of it has been encroached upon. He also claimed that the department has taken up the matter with the Divisional Commission Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner concerned and asked them to remove the encroachment. He also claimed that about 252 units are functional at Lassipora Industrial Estate.
Replying to a supplementary question of Showkat Hussain Ganai, the Minister said that a major portion of the earmarked area for the Estate was encroached and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and concerned Deputy Commissioner have been asked to take action against the encroachers.
Meanwhile, intervening during the reply, LC Chairman, Haji Anayat Ali directed the concerned Minister to furnish the details of encroachers and action taken by the department to the member and inform the House within three days.
Responding to supplementary of Saif-Ud-Din Bhat regarding the delay in making Ompura Industrial Estate–Budgam functional, the Minister said the allotments at the said Estate were halted after army raised objection over construction in the vicinity of its ammunition depot located in the area. He further informed that the department has now approached Forest Department to provide land in exchange of the land at Ompura for developing the Estate.
The Minister also welcomed the offer of the legislator to provide land for the industrial estate at Bandarpura free of cost. He said the department has already decided to develop Industrial estates in rural areas and the land offered by the legislator would be used for the same.
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