Gmada ‘cheating’ land-pooling plan beneficiaries

Landowners of Hoshiarpur village, where land has been acquired by Gmada for Ecocity-2 Extension scheme in 2013 and which is up for auction now, have complained that Gmada is selling commercial plots, but not allotting these to the beneficiaries of land-pooling scheme.

The allotment of commercial plots has been pending for more than 12 years now, they claimed. Landowners said 22 plots of 100 sq yd each are being auctioned by Gmada in Ecocity-2 and two school sites were available through e-auction till March 22.

A delegation of landowners led by Avtar Singh Walia today met new Gmada Chief Administrator Vishesh Sarangal and apprised him of ‘gross negligence’ of Gmada.

“On one hand Gmada is auctioning plots to public carved out of their land, and on the other hand, the development authority is delaying allotment of plots to beneficiaries of land pooling scheme. Government’s double standards are there for everyone to see. Landowners and farmers are being cheated and defrauded by Gmada,” he said.

Officials said the Chief Administrator has now directed EO (Plots) Ravinder Singh to resolve the matter immediately. An assurance has been given to the landowners to allot the pending plots within 15 days.

The landowners claimed that if allotment was not done within the assured time, then they would be forced to hold agitation against Gmada and Housing Minister or approach the high court in the coming days.

In September 2024, they had met Gmada Chief Administrator Moneesh Kumar, urging development and allotment of commercial sites pending for the last 11 years in Eco City-2 and Eco City-2 Extension. Gmada CA had instructed the officials to conduct social impact assessment for the Eco City-2 Extension scheme and instructed Harbans Singh, Estate Officer (Plots), Gurdev Singh Atwal, DTP, and AK Batish to resolve the issue in a month, but nothing happened.