Land pooling policy junked, Punjab reverts to 2013 Act for Mohali acquisitions

After scrapping the contentious Land Pooling Policy 2025, the Punjab government has decided to revert back to an earlier 2013 land acquisition act for acquiring land in Mohali.

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) will acquire acres for Eco City 3 in New Chandigarh, 300 acres for low-density housing in Mullanpur, and 3,400 acres for the Aerotropolis extension project under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013,

For Mullanpur, landowners may be offered villas of varying sizes, but final norms need Cabinet approval as the area falls in an eco-sensitive zone.

Earlier, 1,700 acres of land was acquired for A, B, C and D blocks under the 2013 policy. But the Aerotropolis project had been delayed due to prolonged litigation involving 240 acres of land for the last four years.

The affected land owners lament that they have not been issued the letter of Intent (LOI) under the land pooling policy due to an unnecessary litigation initiated by GMADA in 2021, pertaining to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The prolonged dispute has led to revenue loss for GMADA and the Revenue Department, while also stalling development work in the region. Landowners have urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest