Transparency missing in Punjab’s land pooling plan

URBAN development in Punjab is happening at a rate faster than the rest of the country. As per the 2011 Census, 37.48 per cent of the population in Punjab lives in cities as against the national 31.15 per cent. Niti Aayog estimates show that 42 per cent of the population of Punjab was living in cities in 2023. As a result, the cities of Punjab are expanding at a rapid pace, with Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Mohali growing faster than the others.The Punjab Government has decided to acquire agricultural land around these cities and construct planned housing colonies. The decision to acquire 24,311 acres of land in 32 villages around Ludhiana city has been announced. There are also reports that farm land around the remaining cities will be acquired for urban colonies.As commercial activities increase in cities, their populations rise. As a result, agricultural land of nearby villages becomes a part of the cities with a haphazard establishment of colonies. Roads, railways and airports are also constructed. This is called economic infrastructure for development.However, with these processes, land under agriculture and forests starts diminishing. The necessity of providing food to the growing population demands that a minimum area of agricultural land be acquired for urban development as this land is a fixed resource.The concept of using agricultural land for urban expansion in moderation has gained currency. The development of Ludhiana and other cities should be tested with this criterion.An important question remains: is the large amount of land being acquired by the government really needed? A survey to see how many houses and plots are vacant in a city and how many families are without houses there can provide the answer to this query. For example, if 20-25 per cent houses or plots are vacant and 20-25 per cent families are without houses, there is no need to acquire land from the surrounding villages. It is not in the public domain whether any such survey has been conducted by the government.The government’s decision to acquire farm land in so many villages seems to be an arbitrary one and not based on facts. It does not seem to be motivated by the aim of providing cheap housing to the poor and middle classes. Rather, the aim seems to be to prevent realtors and speculators from geting possession of land in urban vicinities.Land acquisition must be considered with reference to The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act 2013. According to this Act, transparency will be maintained while acquiring land of villages by the government. A fair compensation will be given to the landowners and the landless whose livelihood would be affected. Proper arrangements will be made for the rehabilitation of the people displaced.For transparency, it is stipulated that before acquiring land for the public sector, it is necessary to obtain the consent of at least 70 per cent of the affected families and in case of acquisition for the private sector, 80 per cent of the families.Also, it is necessary to conduct a social impact analysis to estimate the extent and nature of the impact of land acquisition on the affected families. The study is expected to include compensation to the affected families as well as arrangements for their rehabilitation. The social impact analysis is to be completed by an autonomous institution, such as a university or a research institute, in collaboration with the panchayat concerned through the gram sabha. This study has to be completed within six months before the land acquisition for these reasons: (i) the public is made aware whether the land is being acquired for the public or private sector; (ii) to estimate the number of families that will be displaced; (iii) to ensure that the minimum area of land is being acquired for the project and whether any alternative land or location has been considered for the project; and (v) to assess the environmental impact of the project.The process of land acquisition can only be initiated after this report is reviewed by an impartial group of experts.There is no indication that the government is ensuring the spirit and provisions of the 2013 Act for acquiring land. There is no official information on whether social impact and environmental impact analyses have been done with the participation of the people of the affected villages. There is also no information on the basis of which the decision to acquire the large area of land has been taken.There is also no data about how many houses and plots are vacant, for example in say Ludhiana city. There is also no mention of any other options that have been considered before deciding to acquire the land of the villages.According to government statements, a land pooling policy will be adopted at the time of acquisition. The landowners will be allotted 1,000 sq yards of residential plots and 200 sq yards of commercial plots along with compensation. This means that the cost of these plots will be deducted by the government from the compensation.But the government has no plans for the compensation and rehabilitation of the displaced landless families, who are mostly the under-privileged sections. Thus, the land pooling policy has not been synchronised with the land acquisition Act.It would be appropriate to collect data about the land area in and around the cities that has been purchased by people and kept vacant. Some builders and others have purchased a lot of land and kept it unutilised for speculation purpose. Such land should be acquired after conducting a survey so as to minimise the acquisition of agricultural land.It is necessary to reconsider the policy of urbanisation in the state. Instead of building one- or two-storey houses, multi-storeyed flats should be built so as to make economical use of land.In the past, land has been acquired from farmers for constructing houses, highways and airports in many cities. Though they had been given compensation, most of them could not sustain themselves with it for long. Most people lack the skills of managing money for good returns. After losing their land, many farmers end up becoming landless labourers. It will be appropriate to train the displaced adults in this matter as a part of the rehabilitation programme.It is in society’s interest that the government acquires the minimum area of land and does so only if urgently needed. The government must ensure that the land pooling policy synchronises with the land acquisition Act.

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