Shamlat land at 17 villages of Mohali to go under hammer

The state government is planning to sell shamlat land in 17 villages of Mohali through an open auction to rake in money before it gets encroached by real estate project developers.

The block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) has been instructed to identify and demarcate the shamlat land in Sukhgarh, Safipur, Daun, Green Enclave, Manakpur Kallar, Kandala, Kambali, Behramour, Raipur Kalan, Chappar Chirri Kalan, Rurka, Bari, Tangori, Raipur Khurd, Giddarpur, Nanumajra and Bhagomajra soon.

The BDPO and other officials held a meeting in this regard with the sarpanches of these villages.

Farmer union leaders have criticised the state government’s move, terming it as loot of land from village people. “The shamlat land is used for community purposes and other developmental activities,” they said.

“The Rural Development and Panchayats Department had called a meeting of sarpanches to get resolutions passed by their panchayats,” claimed Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) leader Paramdeep Singh Baidwan.

Farmer union members also lent support to the sarpanches and urged them to resist the government’s move if any pressure was exerted on them.

District Development and Panchayat Officer Paramvir Kaur said, “Not all shamlat land will be disposed of. Only excess land, which is not a source of income and runs the risk of being encroached by nearby real estate projects, will be put up for open auction.”

Officials said a committee would be formed to assess the appropriate value of the land to go under the hammer.