Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi Wednesday described as `mischievous` reports that his
government had misused its discretionary powers in allotting
prime land to scores of people, including MLAs, politicians
and top bureaucrats.
In a statement, he said the Tamil Nadu Housing Board,
which had a solid land bank in the state, sold 85 per cent of
land through lots to the public and the rest 15 per cent was
being used by the state government for discretionary quota.
The land pricing for the discretionary quota was fixed
on the basis of ruling rate, market rate or the guideline
value, whichever was higher, he said.
In some cases, the allottes had returned the land on
the plea that the price quoted was very high, he said.
He described reports that the land was sold at a
throwaway price as "untrue and mischievous".
He said the housing board did not suffer any loss due
to sale of land under discretionary quota and there was no
violation of rules in the discretionary allotment.
"If there is any violation of rules in the allotment,
it will be cancelled," he said.
Information obtained through an RTI query has revealed
prime land was allotted to a judge of the Madras High Court, a
retired judge, kin of a state minister, DMK and Congress MLAs,
and a top Intelligence official, among others, allegedly in
violation of norms.
PTI
