Sanjay Khan shows interest in Gulmarg land

Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Film actor Sanjay Khan and several other leading businessmen of the country had shown keen interest in taking the land on lease at Gulmarg to set up hotels and resorts there.

Well-placed sources told UNI that these entrepreneurs had short-listed several local businessmen for entering into joint ventures, a condition set by the Jammu and Kashmir government for taking the land on lease at the world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg.

The state government was well on the course to invite bids for about 560 kanals (28 hectares) of land at the leopard valley of Dhobighat in Gulmarg, they added.

The auction was scheduled for this week, but Tourism Minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir announced at a news conference here on November 23 that the Cabinet decision to lease out the land at Gulmarg has been put on hold till the apprehensions regarding the order were cleared.

The announcement came after Mr Mir was put on the defensive by a persistent media over a particular clause in the government order which gave authority to an Administrative Secretary for granting the land to non-state subjects (outsiders).

The sources said Mr Khan, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of World Resorts Limited which owns the Golden Palms Hotel and Spa, was among those eyeing the land at Gulmarg. His Spa and Five Star Super Deluxe Hotel is worth 33 million US dollars and is located on the outskirts of Bangalore.

They said the film actor was planning to set up a world class tourist resort at Gulmarg.

The sources said Mr Khan had zeroed in on one of his relatives here as a local partner. His sister Dilshada was married to a well- known Kashmiri businessman, Javed Sheikh, who died a few years ago.

They said the film actor had approached the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Mumbai recently and held preliminary discussions for seeking a loan of Rs 100 crore from it. Mr Khan was yet to submit a formal proposal to the Bank.

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