Land pooling: BKU Doaba takes up farmers’ grievances at meeting

Members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Doaba (BKU Doaba), held a meeting at Bhullarai village in Phagwara to discuss grievances of villagers who are opposing the state government’s land pooling policy. The gathering held at a local gurdwara was well attended.

Headed by BKU Doaba state president Manjit Singh Rai, the meeting saw the presence of families from Bhullarai village, whose land is set to be acquired under the land pooling scheme.

BKU Doaba leaders shared that 200 acres of land from the village was to be acquired for a New Urban Estate. Rai condemned the land pooling policy of the state government calling it unfeasible. He said 60 families from Bhullarai village would lose their land the policy comes to fruition. Meeting BKU Doaba leaders on the occasion, members of families said they would be left unemployed if they had to part with their land.

Residents of Bhullarai village said this land was the source of bread for many families and there was no other means of livelihood for them. Villagers said the entire village was united and people would never give this land to the government, even if they had to launch a struggle for this.

Rai, after listening to villagers grievances, said, “The Bhartiya Kisan Union Doaba will struggle shoulder to shoulder with farmers and villagers. We will never tolerate government’s excesses on this front. We have got this land through sacrifices of our elders. Farmers will not part with their land sustained with hard work, sweat and blood.”

Rai, who earlier visited villages affected by the project in Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Jalandhar, told Bhullarai village residents, “I have been to other districts affected by the project and villagers aren’t willing to part with even a marla of their land.”

Rai said, “The state government has thrown caution to the wind abandoning the norms and requirements of the central land pooling act for this Punjab project. Clauses pertaining to issues like consent of at least 80 per cent of residents; prior requirement stated by people for such a project; and the cost (stated as per the central act) to be paid to farmers, have all been ignored. All former similar projects of PUDA in other districts are lying unsold as these are highly overpriced. In Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar too these PUDA projects have been built. No one wants to invest in these projects due to high prices. Even 1,200 square yards being promised to farmers in lieu of their land will have a high development charge which will be charged from them. The policy is in no way profitable for a farmer. It will not generate any income for farmers, rather steal their existing livelihoods. It’s a poor scheme brought in without demand or consent.”

Punjab BKU Doaba vice president Harbhajan Singh Bajwa said 200 acres from Bhullarai village was set to be acquired. He said this land belonged to 60 families of which 32 were in India and 28 abroad.

Bajwa said, “Two meetings have already been held to discuss the issue. Farmers have also met officials of the administration. Villagers will not part with their land.”

From BKU Doaba, press secretary Gurpal Singh, Pala Makhan Singh, Todarpur Raja Singh Jagjit Pur and Hardeep Singh were present at the meeting. Farmers from Bhullarai present at the meeting included Harminder Singh, Hardeep Singh, Ajit Singh, Baldev Singh, Swarn Singh and others.

Jalandhar