State moves to eliminate distress sales with new land policy

The state government has introduced the New Land Purchase Policy for Development Projects, 2025 to facilitate voluntary land sales to government bodies. The policy is being seen as a major step to prevent distress sales. It supersedes the earlier 2017 policy with a more structured and inclusive framework. The policy was approved by the state cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday.

What is the New Land Purchase Policy for Development Projects 2025?

The policy enables voluntary land sale by owners to government departments, boards, corporations and companies for development projects. It introduces new definitions, aggregator incentives and legal safeguards. It also allows partial sale of land shares, mandates clear land ownership, and ensures access roads. The policy is also open for Central Government departments for land acquisition.

What is the aim of the policy?

The policy aims at providing a platform to the landowners to prevent distress sale in case of dire necessity due to non-availability of suitable purchasers. Besides this, the landowners can also participate in decision-making of the government projects by offering their lands and getting optimum price for the same.

What are the provisions under the policy?

The policy for purchase of land voluntarily offered to government department, its entities, i.e. Boards and Corporations and Government Companies for Development Projects, 2025 includes introduction of definition of admissible offer, change in definition of an aggregator, In part-A, a provision has been made that the landowner can sell his share in part or full, which was not available in the earlier policy. Besides this, a provision has been made to ensure an access road of 5 karam to the land offered. To ensure clear ownership, the land should not be `shamilat deh’ or `mushtarkamalkan’ etc at any time. The rights of minors, idiots or lunatics have been completely protected by ensuring proper authorisation of the court. The reasonability of the rates is to be ensured by the Deputy Commissioner concerned.

What is the provision of charges/ incentive in the policy?

Facilitation charges shall be paid to the aggregator @1 per cent of the total transaction cost and in two instalments i.e. 0.5 per cent at the time of completion of registration of deed and remaining 0.5 per cent after sanctioning of mutation and delivery of possession. To give incentive payment to aggregator who have made efforts towards aggregation of land and uploaded at least 70 per cent of total indented land of the project to the tune of Rs 1,000 per acre to Rs 3,000 per acre depending upon the rates of the land i.e. Rs 3,000 per acre if the land is offered at the collector rates, Rs 2,000 per acre if the land is offered at not more than 20 per cent above the collector rates and Rs 1,000 per acre if land is offered at a still higher rate. The departments of the Central Government and its entities can also proceed in this policy for purchase of land for its developmental projects.

What was the earlier provision?

The state government had earlier notified the policy for purchase of land voluntarily offered to the government for development projects to prevent distress sale by landowners and to involve them in decision-making. It was later felt that the policy needed to be more holistic by including provisions related to incentives for aggregators and their empanelment through an online portal. Hence, the 2025 policy was introduced, superseding the 2017 policy, including all its amendments.

Haryana Tribune