Bajwa writes to Guv, wants Mandi Board land transfer halted

Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa has sought the intervention of Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in halting the move of the Punjab Mandi Board to transfer 12 acres of vegetable and fruit market in Mohali to PUDA for auction.

The move has been initiated under the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Lands Scheme.

In a letter to the Governor, Bajwa said on September 25, the Punjab Mandi Board resolved to transfer about 12 acres of the ultra-modern fruit and vegetable market at Phase-11 (Sector 65), Mohali, to PUDA, at the collector (circle) rate, with an indicative receipt of over Rs 700 crore to the Board. The same decision envisaged refunding recent allottees with 6 per cent interest, although 15 double-storeyed shops were allotted and handed over in July 2025, and trading activity had begun. “On the surface, this may be framed as an inter-governmental adjustment. In substance, it dismantles an operating public market, unsettles small traders who invested in good faith and erodes value to the public exchequer by substituting a true market discovery with an administrative rate,” he said.

He sought status quo on title, possession and operations at the market and no forced cancellations or refund cheques be imposed on allottees without a rehabilitationplan and fair compensation for actual losses.