Punjab's most ambitious land acquisition exercise yet faces Oppn resistance, SAD promises agitation
The land slated for acquisition accounts for nearly 40 percent of the total area of Ludhiana district.
The state's housing department intends to acquire a whopping 24,311 acres of land in southern Ludhiana for the development of urban estates. This is the highest-ever chunk of land planned to be acquired in a single region in Punjab. The acquisition will take place across multiple zones and the move was cleared during a meeting of various department heads chaired by the chief secretary last month.
Chandigarh: The Punjab government's most ambitious land acquisition exercise ever seems to have hit a roadblock even before being officially announced.
Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), the government body under the housing department was given the go ahead to start gathering land for the proposed urban estate projects.
Addressing a press conference Tuesday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal declared that his party will not allow a single inch of this land to be acquired even if it means mounting an agitation.
He said the move was planned in a manner to facilitate large scale corruption by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders from Delhi led by party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
He added that he had visited Isapur, one of the villages in Ludhiana where land was to be taken by the government. 'The land owners told us that the cost of land there was almost Rs 5 crore an acre and there was no way the government could match this amount while acquiring the land,' he said.
Badal added that the large difference in the market value of the land and the compensation that would likely be offered by the government created fertile ground for rampant corruption. 'Landowners not wanting to be a part of the acquisition process will pay huge bribes for their land to be taken out of it. It's already happening. Soon all registries of land would be halted in the area. Landowners are being forced to prepare backdated documents to prove to the government that they had buildings or sheds or residential houses on their lands to take them out of the scheme,' said Badal.
He added that he was receiving similar complaints from other areas in Ludhiana and will be visiting these villages in the coming days.
Badal said that even as the acquisition process had been set into motion, Kejriwal had appointed his former cabinet colleagues, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, to oversee various projects in Punjab.
'Apart from these two, persons loyal to AAP's Delhi leadership have been put in key positions in RERA (Real estate regulatory authority), the Punjab Large Industrial Board and the Punjab Pollution Control Board. Which means that anyone who objects to the acquisition process will find no relief from these bodies,' said Badal.
Leaders of Bhartiya Kisan Union Dakaunda have already announced that they would be protesting against the acquisition of land in Ludhiana.
Few details about Punjab's largest land acquisition have been made public. When contacted, Punjab's Principal Secretary, Housing, Vikas Garg, was tight-lipped about the project.
'We're still working on the project. It is too early to say anything. Moreover, it would not be appropriate to share details of the exercise,' he said.
Sources in the government, however, added that the land will be acquired not in the traditional method of acquisition, which included farmers parting with their land compulsorily, but through 'land pooling' which is a voluntary exercise.
'Acquisition of such a large amount of land is not practical as the process of acquisition is full of social, cultural and legal hurdles. However, land pooling is the way forward in this case,' said an officer involved in the process but who wished to not be named.
The land pooling scheme notified by the government in 2013 offered to make land owners stakeholders in urban development. The scheme entailed the land owner being given cash compensation along with a part of the developed land in the form of plots. Landowners could also opt to go in for 'letters of intent' from the government which they could further sell.
Former state government officer K.B.S. Sidhu, who served in the housing department for several years wrote about the project in his recent blog.
He pointed out that direct acquisition could mean a staggering compensation bill for the government. 'The basic per-acre cost is unlikely to be less than ₹50 lakh, amounting to a total outlay of at least ₹12,000 crore—the Punjab Government appears to be banking on a land-pooling model as a strategic alternative to conventional acquisition,' he wrote.
'The land-pooling approach sidesteps this challenge by offering landowners Letters of Intent in lieu of immediate cash compensation, promising them developed residential plots or commercial sites within the reconstituted layout,' he wrote.
Sidhu said the land pooling method achieved a dual objective of reducing the immediate funding pressure on GLADA, while giving landowners a lucrative and tradeable stake in the future urban form.
He hailed the government's move, calling it the state's 'bold initiative'.
'The Punjab Government's decision to acquire 24,311 acres of land in and around Ludhiana in one consolidated exercise through the GLADA marks one of the most ambitious urban planning initiatives in recent memory,' he wrote, adding that few state governments had attempted such large scale land acquisition in a 'single stroke'.
Sidhu however, cautioned that the 'sheer magnitude' of the Ludhiana proposal demanded 'cautious realism'.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: 'Hit list' lays bare infighting in radical MP Amritpal Singh-led outfit Waris Punjab De
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Center to develop nine roads leading to Nashik ahead of Kumbh mela
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all roads connecting Nashik will be developed and upgraded in view of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik. A total of nine roads will be developed by the central government ahead of the religious meet in 2027 and as per the preliminary estimate, the work is likely to cost a further Rs 4000 crore. A high-level meeting regarding the highway connecting Nashik was held on Sunday in the presence of Union Road Development Minister Nitin Gadkari at Nagpur. Gadkari extended in-principle approval to the construction of necessary roads and facilities required for the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in Nashik as a huge crowd of devotees is expected to arrive, leading to a strain on the traffic system. It was decided that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared soon and funds will be made available for this. The routes to be developed include, Ghoti – Pahine – Trimbakeshwar – Jawhar Phata; Dwarka Circle – Sinnar IC 21 (Samruddhi Expressway) Nandur Shingote – Kolhar; Nashik to Kasara; Savli Vihir (IC 20 Samruddhi Expressway) Shirdi – Shani Shingnapur Phata (Rahuri Khurd); Nashik to Dhule; Trimbakeshwar – Jawhar – Manor; Shadow Well – Manmad – Malegaon; Ghoti – Sinnar – Vavi – Shirdi; Shani Shingnapur Phata (Rahuri Khurd) – Ahilyanagar (Kharwandi Phata).The meeting approved the Nashik Ring Road. Along with this, it was decided to make the Nashik to Trimbak road six-lane. 'The cost will be calculated post preparation of the DPR. But the central government has assured all possible financial help as well,' said an official from the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD). He added, the estimated Rs 4000 crore is for the construction of roads and additional money will be required for the Nashik ring road project. 'Keeping in view the increasing interest of devotees towards Kumbh Mela and the expected crowd, I had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide assistance at the central government level for its successful planning and enabling infrastructure road development. As a result this meeting was held today,' said Fadnavis. There are eight important routes to Nashik from Mumbai, Gujarat, Palghar, Pune, Ahilyanagar, Sambhajinagar, Dhule. All these routes and the internal roads in Nashik city and the district also connect to the national highway. The meeting considered the development of all those roads. CM Fadnavis said that the expanded road network will provide more safe facilities to the devotees as it will handle the huge traffic expected during the Kumbh Mela.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Assam Cabinet clears 900 MW pumped storage project for Hinduja Renewables
Guwahati: Assam cabinet has cleared the allotment of a self-identified PSP site to Hinduja Renewables Energy Private Limited for development of 900 MW off-stream Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in West Karbi Anglong District. With an investment of Rs. 5400 crores, this project will contribute towards achieving the state's target of 2 GW PSP capacity by 2030. The project will provide grid stability by storing excess electricity during low demand and releasing it during peak hours, enhancing energy security and supporting renewable energy integration. The State Cabinet has approved the establishment of Rs. 3000 crore SEBI-registered Assam Industrial and Green Growth Fund - an Alternate Investment Fund for Assam with Anchor Investment of Rs. 500 crore in phased manner so as to mobilise long-term capital for renewable energy, green infrastructure, priority Start ups, agro-tech, tourism, MSMEs and other priority sectors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The State Cabinet has approved the 'Shradhanjali' scheme for the Government to facilitate an easy, lawful and coordinated transportation of dead bodies who are of the domicile of the state of Assam from other states to Assam. The Policy will be implemented from 1st October, 2025. The scheme will be applicable primarily for youth engaged in low paying jobs outside the state, along with those who have died in special circumstances, such as murder and accidents. The scheme will not include cases of death during medical treatments outside the state. SB, Assam Police will be the Nodal Agency, wherein a DIG level officer will remain the Nodal Officer to ensure that bodies of residents of Assam are brought back with respect. Family members will inform through local administration, police, or by dialing 112. Moreover, a social media ID will be created dedicatedly for the purpose. The State Cabinet has approved the proposal to notify Urpad Beel area (1256 Hectares) as a Proposed Reserve Forest (PRF) under Section 5 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, in Goalpara district. This ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich wetland will be protected and conserved to strengthen conservation efforts in Goalpara. Live Events The State Cabinet has approved the proposal to notify Hasila Beel area (245 Ha) as a Proposed Reserve Forest (PRF) under Section 5 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, in Goalpara district. One month time will be given to the public to register their opinion etc. The State Cabinet has approved the formulation of the Assam State Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2025 for the creation of the State Mineral Exploration Trust (SMET) to promote exploration of minor minerals such as sand, gravel, stone, granite, limestone, quartzite, china clay, etc.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Jaikrishn trapped as part of a political conspiracy: BAP
Over a month and a half after Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Jaikrishn Patel was caught allegedly taking a Rs 20 lakh bribe, the party said Sunday that it has concluded in its internal investigation that he was trapped as part of a 'political conspiracy'. Party's national president Mohan Lal Roat told The Indian Express that there are plenty of things pointing towards a political conspiracy. 'There are discrepancies in the press conference by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (following Patel's arrest) and the FIR lodged in the case. It is said there were about 48 calls between the two (MLA Patel and complainant Ravindra Kumar). But our MLA replied 1-2 times but most of the calls were by him (Kumar).' Next, Roat questioned the idea of money being given in lieu of 'withdrawing' three Assembly questions when two of these were already answered last year and were in the public domain. 'What was the idea behind taking money to 'withdraw' the questions put up in July last year, when the government had clearly and promptly answered those questions.' Party MP Rajkumar Roat too has questioned the circumstances, saying, 'Since 1952, there must have been about 3,000 MLAs in Rajasthan; excluding those who repeated, there must have been 2,000 to 2,500 MLAs so far in the state. But this was the first time an MLA was trapped. From what our team has investigated, he was trapped as part of a conspiracy.' 'The person on the other end called 40-42 times. Why would the person, who was the MLA candidate for the now ruling party, get scared and give a bribe to the MLA of a regional party? This was planning and this was a conspiracy,' the MP said, referring to complainant Ravindra Kumar's father Ramniwas Meena. While Ravindra Kumar had contested 2023 Assembly elections from Karauli as a BSP candidate and stood third – behind BJP and Congress candidates – his father, Ramniwas Meena and co-owner of the mines, had contested the 2023 election from Todabhim on a BJP ticket but lost to Congress's Ghanshyam Mahar. On May 4, first-time MLA Patel, and a middleman Vijay Patel were arrested by the ACB for allegedly accepting a Rs 20-lakh bribe – the second instalment of a Rs 2.5 crore bribe – in lieu of withdrawing Assembly questions on mining. The ACB had said this was the first instance of it arresting an MLA in the state, and the mines in question are in Todabhim, about 600 kilometres away from the MLA's constituency in Banswara. Party chief Roat said that things would be clearer once they get to meet the MLA. 'We haven't been able to meet the MLA. They are not giving us time to meet, (but once this happens) this will help us clear more things. Moreover, the BJP candidate too had said that he won't let him (Patel) stay around for more than six months,' he said, referring to BJP leader Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya. 'So, due to all of this, we have concluded that he was trapped as part of a conspiracy,' the party chief said. Malviya was elected from Bagidora Assembly in 2023 on a Congress ticket but had left the party to join the BJP last year. He had then unsuccessfully contested the Banswara Lok Sabha (which includes Bagidora Assembly) against BAP's Rajkumar Roat. In the Bagidora bypoll too, BAP's Jaikrishn had defeated BJP's Subhash Tamboliya by a convincing margin of over 51,000 votes. The party's five-member team which investigated the case included party's three MLAs Umesh Meena (Aaspur), Thavar Chand (Dhariyawad), Anil Kumar Katara (Chorasi), party's national spokesperson Jitendra Meena, and party leader Kanti Bhai. MP Roat also said that Patel was 'trapped by people in power as part of a conspiracy. And the people have understood, because the Panchayat Samiti seat which the BJP had won earlier with 600 votes, lost in the by-election. The people have given a befitting reply.' 'We know that if he has made a mistake then his membership might be terminated. But we will have more clarity only once we meet him, and what is said in the chargesheet etc,' party's national president Mohan Lal Roat said.
