Punjab back with remodelled land-pooling policy

The revised draft includes several farmer-centric measures: extending the Sahuliyat Certificate validity from two to four years; extending the deadline for priority tubewell connections to four years with installations to be completed within two months of application; mandating inclusion of all residential and commercial plots in the draw of lots to ensure fairness; depositing pending compensation amounts in the Reference Court to facilitate possession; completing development works within three years of acquisition; increasing land pooling benefits (commercial from 200 to 210 sq yd/acre and residential from 1,600 to 1,630 sq yd/acre); widening the oustee quota so cash-compensation landowners remain eligible for plot allotments; integrating village infrastructure with urban plans and exempting certain facilities (schools, parks, dispensaries) from acquisition; upgrading sewerage, water and roads; protecting houses along village phirnis and planning relocation for those outside habitation zones.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development prepared a draft of the new policy, which was seen by Hindustan Times and expected to be tabled at the upcoming cabinet meeting for approval.

The Punjab government withdrew the controversial Land Pooling Policy 2025 after stakeholder opposition and a stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The policy had proposed acquiring a total of 65,533 acres across 21 cities and towns to develop industrial and residential zones, with major targets including Ludhiana (24,000 acres), Mohali (6,000 acres), Amritsar (4,464 acres), and other areas such as Patiala, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Sangrur.