The Kerala government is re-examining the decision of the previous state government on handing over about two acres of prime land at nearby Veli, a tourism hot spot, to Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan for setting up an international school of music.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

"Government is re-examining a full range of orders, cabinet decisions taken in the last 2-3 months of UDF rule," sources in the Kerala tourism department told PTI.

"The land alloted to Amjad Ali Khan's proposed academy is one among the decisions which is being reviewed," they said.

Besides the land alloted to Khan, the LDF government has also decided to retrieve about 20 acres of land at Veli, which was assigned to private persons by the Congress-led UDF government. The previous Oommen Chandy government had in September 2015 sanctioned two acres of land, part of the 25 acres of Veli tourist village being developed by the tourist department.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said his government had decided to hand over the land at Veli following the "deep interest shown by the maestro in settling in the state by teaching and grooming the students here". The foundation stone for the music school was laid in the presence of Khan a few days before the LDF government took charge.