Over 11,500 Kanals of Land Allocated for Industrial Expansion in J&K; 11 Non-Residents Receive 2,093 Kanals in last 2 years

Jammu, Mar 19: In a major push towards industrial development, the Jammu and Kashmir government has allocated over 11,546 kanals of land for the establishment of new Industrial Estates (IEs) across the Union Territory over the past two years. Out of this, 2,093 kanals have been allotted to 11 non-J&K residents for investment in industrial projects in Kathua, Jammu, and Srinagar districts.

However, one of the investors, Sri Lankan cricket legend Muthiah Muralitharan, has surrendered the 206 kanals of land allotted to him at Bhagthali-II Industrial Estate in Kathua. He had initially acquired the land for setting up a beverages can manufacturing unit under the banner of M/s Ceylon Beverages Can Pvt Ltd.

The information was disclosed by Industries and Commerce Minister Surinder Choudhary in response to a starred question raised by PDP legislator Waheed ur Rehman Parra in the Legislative Assembly.

As per the minister’s reply, 6,014 kanals of land in the Jammu Division and 5,532 kanals in the Kashmir Division have been transferred to the Industries and Commerce Department to facilitate industrial growth.

Among the notable land allotments in Bhagthali-I & II Industrial Estates (Kathua) and Medicity, Sempora (Srinagar) are:

• • Riju Jhunjhunwala (Delhi) – 275 kanals at Bhagthali-I
  • Brij Mohan Dev Kindan Chiripal (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) – 222 kanals & 424 kanals at Bhagthali-I
  • Ankur Bansal (Pitampura, Delhi) – 402 kanals at Bhagthali-II
  • Manohar Lal Aggarwal – 201 kanals at Bhagthali-II
  • Chirag Goenka (Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat) – 209 kanals at Bhagthali-II
  • Muthiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 206 kanals at Bhagthali-II (Surrendered land)
  • Nikhil Nada (Badarpur, Delhi) – 130 kanals at Medicity, Sempora, Srinagar (M/s Megna Waves Buildtech Pvt Ltd, EMAAR Group UAE)
  • Nikhil Nada (Badarpur, Delhi) – 24 kanals at Exhibition Ground, Jammu (M/s Megna Waves Buildtech Pvt Ltd, EMAAR Group UAE)

In response to another query, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds charge of the Industries and Commerce Department, clarified that:

• • Jammu Province: 6,014 kanals & 10 marlas of land in Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Poonch, and Kishtwar have been transferred exclusively for industrial estates in the last two years.
  • Kashmir Province: 5,532 kanals & 19 marlas of land have been allocated for industrial estates in Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, and Shopian districts.

The minister also dismissed concerns regarding land transfers to private or public authorities, stating that all land allocations were made solely for industrial development purposes.