Punjab Axes Land Pooling Policy After Farmer Fury and Court Stay

The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has formally approved the denotification of the state’s land pooling policy, days after its withdrawal on August 11 amid intense opposition from farmer organizations and political parties. The decision, finalized during a council of ministers’ meeting, marks the culmination of a contentious chapter for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which had initially promoted the policy as “farmer-friendly.”

Introduced in June, the policy aimed to acquire approximately 65,000 acres of land, including 45,000 acres in Ludhiana, for residential and industrial development. It offered landowners a 1,000-square-yard residential plot and a 200-square-yard commercial plot per acre in developed areas. However, critics labeled it a “land grabbing” scheme, prompting widespread protests. The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s August 7 ruling, which imposed a four-week stay on the policy’s implementation due to inadequate social and environmental impact assessments, further pressured the government.

Farmer bodies and opposition parties hailed the withdrawal as a “victory for Punjab’s people,” claiming their agitation forced the rollback. The Cabinet’s decision to denotify the policy reflects the government’s response to public outcry and judicial scrutiny, ensuring no land is acquired without consent.

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