United Breweries: ‘land deal was not brokered by present government’

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s Office has released the chronology of actions taken by various governments over 45 years to refute allegations relating to in the allotment of land to United Breweries of Vijay Mallya in Palakkad district.

The order to provide land to Premier Breweries at Kanjikode in the district was issued by telex on January 13, 1971 by the then Industries Minister N. E. Balaram (Achutha Menon ministry) for a brewery project, and 20 acres was given on lease to the company on March 17 that year.

A temporary title to the land was granted on May 21, 1985 when UDF government under K. Karunakaran was in power. Premier Breweries subsequently merged with United Breweries. On request from the company, the Palakkad collector initiated steps in 2002 (when UDF government headed by A. K. Antony was in power) to grant full title to the company. The Cabinet approved grant of title at Rs. 20000 a cent with six per cent interest on April 2, 2005 when Mr. Oommen Chandy was the Chief Minister.

However, the company went to court claiming that the price was too high. However, in December 2012, the company came forward to pay the amount and the case was withdrawn. The title was granted April 19, 2013 on orders of the Palakkad Collector. The company paid Rs. 70163 per cent including interest till date.

The allegation is that the company got the land at a discounted price as the market value of the land in 2013 was about Rs. 3 lakh a cent.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Friday that the media had raised a controversy over it by misrepresenting the chronology. The title was granted as part of proceedings that had started 45 years ago. The media was being cruel in reporting that that this was a land deal brokered by the present government towards the end of its term.