Punjab Cabinet approves land pooling policy amid tiff with farmers

Amid ongoing tensions with farmer groups and criticism from various Opposition parties, the Punjab Council of Ministers on Monday approved the Land Pooling Policy, aimed at curbing illegal colonisation.

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Under the policy, farmers can voluntarily offer their land for development and, in return, receive a residential plot and a commercial site in lieu of one acre of land.

Punjab Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora clarified that the policy is entirely voluntary, with no element of coercion. “This initiative will initially be launched in 27 cities across the state,” he said.

Farmers will have the choice to develop the land themselves or hand it over to private developers or government agencies.

If a person contributes nine acres of land, three acres will be returned to the owner for developing a group housing society—meaning one-third of the pooled land is returned to the owner.

It is learnt that under the land pooling scheme, for every one acre of land contributed to the developer, the owner will receive a 1,000-square-yard residential plot and a 200-square-yard commercial plot.

The developer will be responsible for all external development work. Additionally, until the owners receive the residential and commercial sites, they will be paid Rs 30,000 per acre per year for up to three years.