400% Return, Zero Coercion; Punjab’s Land Pooling is India’s Boldest Pro-Farmer Policy : Harpal Cheema
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Akali – BJP & Congress are rattled: Land Pooling to Uproot Builder Mafia and Enrich Farmers : Harpal Cheema
Policy gives decisive blow to land mafia, era of illegal colonies and forcible land acquisitions : Harpal Cheema
Chandigarh, May 22 (WISHAVWARTA):-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday announced a landmark initiative by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government: the implementation of an innovative Land Pooling Policy designed to foster transparent and planned urban development across the state. This policy marks a significant departure from past practices, prioritizing voluntary participation and empowering landowners to become active stakeholders in the state’s progress.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema highlighted the the policy’s core principle of 100% voluntary participation. “Under this visionary policy, there will be no forcible land acquisition. We developed a model that respects the rights and aspirations of our farmers and landowners.”
The Finance Minister highlighted the substantial economic benefits for participating landowners. “This policy directly addresses the growing demand for affordable housing in our urban centers, driven by Punjab’s rapid urbanization. Market estimates indicate that farmers who engage in this Land Pooling Policy stand to gain up to a 400 percent return on their land investment,” he stated.
The Finance Minister said that the development agencies of the Punjab Government would undertake the development of pooled land, ensuring the provision of modern infrastructure, including roads, water supply, sewerage, drainage, and electricity. “Once developed, the land, returned to the original landowners as per their contribution, will appreciate significantly. Landowners will have the autonomy to utilize their developed land as they see fit, whether for personal use or for sale,” said Cheema.
Finance Minister Cheema positioned this policy as a decisive blow against the land mafia and the era of illegal colonies and forcible land acquisitions. “For the past three decades, the Congress, Akali-BJP governments have operated in collusion with the land mafia, enriching their political allies at the expense of our farmers. This policy puts an end to that corrupt system,” he asserted.
He further criticized the opposition parties for their “crocodile tears” and attempts to mislead the general public against AAP government’s efforts to revolutionize urban development and empowering landowners in Punjab. “Their outrage is a transparent attempt to protect their crony land mafia,” said Cheema while adding, “During their tenures, countless acres of land were forcibly seized from farmers and subsequently sold to developers and builders for exorbitant profits. They are terrified that the AAP government’s plan to extend this Land Pooling Policy to all major cities in Punjab, ensuring affordable and world-class housing, will dismantle their lucrative network of corruption.”
The Finance Minister reiterated the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of urban development reach the common people, not just a select few. “This policy is a testament to the AAP government’s dedication to transparent governance and equitable development. We are building a Punjab where prosperity is shared by all, and the exploitation of our farmers and working-class citizens is a thing of the past,” he concluded.
*Land Pooling Policy’s Unmatched Benefits for Farmers: (Explainer)*
The benefits of the policy are evident when comparing the old land acquisition policy with the new land pooling policy. For instance, if the market rate of one acre of land is Rs 1.25 crore, under the old policy, it would be acquired for Rs 1.2 crore, calculated by multiplying the collector rate of Rs 30 lakh by a factor of 2 (for rural areas) and adding a 100% solatium.
In contrast, under the land pooling policy, the landowner would receive a developed residential area of 1000 square yards and a commercial area of 200 square yards in exchange for contributing one acre of land. Assuming a price of Rs 30,000 per square yard for residential areas and Rs 60,000 per square yard for commercial areas, the total value the landowner would receive would be approximately Rs 4.2 crore (1000 sq yds x Rs 30,000 + 200 sq yds x Rs 60,000). This starkly highlights the significant benefits offered by the land pooling policy.
