Lok Sabha Question No. 1885 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Lease of Salt Land
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1885.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 28 TH   NOVEMBER,  2016.

## LEASE OF SALT LAND

## 1885.  DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether the Salt Commissioner  granted land leases for salt cultivation in the country including Mumbai in early 20th century;
- (b) if so, whether a large number of salt land lease in Mumbai expire in October, 2016; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the present status of these salt land leases and action proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): The Salt Commissioner granted land lease for salt  cultivation in the country including Mumbai in early 20 th Century.
- (b): Lease of six salt works expired in October, 2016.
- (c): Details along with present status of these salt land leases and action taken by the Government is annexed .

*******

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIOIN NO. 1885 FOR ANSWER ON 28 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016.

|   S. | Name of Salt Works                              | Present Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Arthur Salt Works, Bhandup Salt Factory         | Lease of Arthur and Jenkins Salt Works was terminated vide orders dated 02-11-2004, due to non-manufacturing of salt. This order was challenged by the ex-licensees in the High Court Bombay (now transferred to City Civil Court and renumbered as Suit No. 6256 of 2005). Hon'ble court granted stay order against creating third rights and taking possession of the suit lands. Notice of Motion No. 3788 of 2016 in Suit No. 6256 of 2005 has been filed on 29-09-2016 in Hon'ble City Civil Court praying for dismissal of the suit land in view of expiry of lease on 14-10-2016. A praecipe was also filed on 17-10-2016 for early hearing which was not granted by the Hon'ble City Civil Court. The possession of the land is still with the lessee.                                                                                  |
|    2 | Jenkins salt Works, Bhandup Salt Factory        | Lease of Arthur and Jenkins Salt Works was terminated vide orders dated 02-11-2004, due to non-manufacturing of salt. This order was challenged by the ex-licensees in the High Court Bombay (now transferred to City Civil Court and renumbered as Suit No. 6256 of 2005). Hon'ble court granted stay order against creating third rights and taking possession of the suit lands. Notice of Motion No. 3788 of 2016 in Suit No. 6256 of 2005 has been filed on 29-09-2016 in Hon'ble City Civil Court praying for dismissal of the suit land in view of expiry of lease on 14-10-2016. A praecipe was also filed on 17-10-2016 for early hearing which was not granted by the Hon'ble City Civil Court. The possession of the land is still with the lessee.                                                                                  |
|    3 | Jamasp Salt Works, Bhandup Salt Factory         | Lease of Jamasp and Battiwala Salt Works was terminated vide orders dated 01-04-2005, due to non-manufacturing of salt; which was challenged by the lessee in Suit No. 1172 of 2005. Hon'ble High Court, Bombay issued interim order dated 05-06- 2006 and restrained the Department from taking over possession of the suit lands. Salt Commissioner Organization filed appeal No. 534 of 2006 against this order including interlocutory application (I.A.) against the operation of the orders dated 05-06-2006, which is pending before the Hon'ble Court for final hearing. In view of expiry of lease on 14-10-2016, a notice of Motion No. 2481 of 2016 in Suit No. 1172 of 2005 was filed on 01-10-2016 in Hon'ble High Court, Bombay praying for dismissal of the suit and for taking possession of the suit land. A praecipe was also |
|    4 | Battiwala Salt Works, Bhandup salt Factory      | Lease of Jamasp and Battiwala Salt Works was terminated vide orders dated 01-04-2005, due to non-manufacturing of salt; which was challenged by the lessee in Suit No. 1172 of 2005. Hon'ble High Court, Bombay issued interim order dated 05-06- 2006 and restrained the Department from taking over possession of the suit lands. Salt Commissioner Organization filed appeal No. 534 of 2006 against this order including interlocutory application (I.A.) against the operation of the orders dated 05-06-2006, which is pending before the Hon'ble Court for final hearing. In view of expiry of lease on 14-10-2016, a notice of Motion No. 2481 of 2016 in Suit No. 1172 of 2005 was filed on 01-10-2016 in Hon'ble High Court, Bombay praying for dismissal of the suit and for taking possession of the suit land. A praecipe was also |
|    5 | Shepherd Salt Works, Bhandup Salt Factory       | Due to non-manufacturing of salt and non-payment of Government dues and for entering into agreement with Ajmera Housing Corporation, the lease was terminated in 1989-90. Aggrieved by this termination order, the lessee filed Writ Petition No. 19/1990 in Hon'ble Bombay High Court, which was dismissed. Subsequently parties filed SLP No. 9024 of 2008 in Hon'ble Supreme Court against High Court's order. Civil Appeal No. 5867 of 2013 arising out of SLP 9024 of 2008 is pending in the Supreme Court. The possession of the land is still with the lessee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|    6 | Shepherd Annex Salt Works, Bhandup Salt Factory | Due to non-manufacturing of salt and non-payment of Government dues and for entering into agreement with Ajmera Housing Corporation, the lease was terminated in 1989-90. Aggrieved by this termination order, the lessee filed Writ Petition No. 19/1990 in Hon'ble Bombay High Court, which was dismissed. Subsequently parties filed SLP No. 9024 of 2008 in Hon'ble Supreme Court against High Court's order. Civil Appeal No. 5867 of 2013 arising out of SLP 9024 of 2008 is pending in the Supreme Court. The possession of the land is still with the lessee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

*******