Land pooling policy kicks up a storm
Members of the Congress on Sunday held a protest meeting with the representatives of six villages- whose land is set to be acquired under the state government’s proposed land pooling scheme. Congress leaders expressed solidarity with villagers to oppose the scheme.
Accompanied by Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, Congress leader Pargat Singh said they would fight for the land “legally, socially, and politically”.
Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh warned, “If necessary, farmers will approach the Supreme Court to halt this ‘loot of Punjab’s land.’” The statements were made referring to the plans to shift 1,000 acres of land across six villages in Jalandhar to develop Urban Estate Phase-3 near Jalandhar Cantonment under the land pooling scheme.
Addressing a large gathering of farmers at Gurdwara Singh Sabha at Kukkad Pind, one of the villages set to witness the shift under the scheme, Pargat said the strong opposition was brewing against the government’s controversial land pooling policy, with farmers from across political lines joining forces to fight what they describe as a blatant attempt to transfer their lands to large corporate houses.
Farmers from six affected villages in Jalandhar — Kukkad Pind, Kot Kalan, Nangal Karar Khan, Kot Khurd, Sofi Pind, and Bulla Rai — participated in the protest meeting along with villagers from Kapurthala and Phagwara. Local leaders, including Sarpanch Jagraj Singh (Kukkad Pind), Balkar Singh Manga (Kot Khurd), Avtar Singh Bittu (Kot Kala), Randhir Singh (Sofi Pind), and Dr Sukhbir Singh (Salarpur), pledged to mobilise their communities.
Pargat called on villagers to convene gram sabhas and pass resolutions, opposing the policy. He said, “Under the law, 70 per cent consent is needed for pooling, but only 20 per cent signatures are needed to oppose it. Use your legal rights. Resist.”
Pargat alleged, “The AAP government, under directions from Delhi, has prepared a plan to hand over 50,000 acres to corporate houses. Farmers are being kept in the dark as this policy is being implemented without consent.” He demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should hold an open discussion on the issue during the upcoming special session of the Vidhan Sabha on July 10–11.
The notification of the policy was flawed. “There was no environmental or social impact assessment or fair compensation mechanism. The policy lacks basic due diligence and violates the principle of consent. Once land is taken, an entire village’s social and economic fabric is destroyed.”
Congress district president (Rural) and MLA from Shahkot Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia also opposed the policy, stating: “This is not merely a policy, it is an assault on Punjab’s villages, culture and future. Land is being snatched in the name of development. We will fight this battle unitedly.”
According to Pargat, the policy targets 1,000 acres in Jalandhar, with large tracts also identified in Ludhiana (23,000 acres), Mohali (3,500 acres), Pathankot (1,000 acres), Patiala (1,100 acres), Bathinda (900 acres), Sangrur (600 acres), Moga (500 acres), Nawanshahr (400 acres), Ferozepur and Barnala (300 acres each), Hoshiarpur (550 acres), Kapurthala (150 acres), Nakodar (200 acres), Gurdaspur (80 acres), Tarn Taran (97 acres), and Sultanpur Lodhi (70 acres).
Jalandhar