Land pooling policy: Mann says no forcible acquisition, accuses Opposition of spreading lies
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday dubbed as “propaganda” the Opposition’s accusations against the land pooling policy, saying there won’t be any forcible acquisition of farmland as the participation in the initiative was completely voluntary.
Addressing a gathering of sarpanches from the Dhuri Assembly segment, he said the state government would also ensure that farmers contributing to the initiative get fair price of their property.
He stressed that the initiative would not only lead to the development of legal colonies but also prevent the duping of people, who end up buying properties in unauthorised colonies lacking even basic amenities due to unscrupulous builders.
“The Opposition is against the policy just for the sake of opposing it…neither the state government would acquire land forcibly, nor without the consent of farmers,” he added.
The CM’s remarks have come as the Opposition and farmer groups are set to launch a statewide stir against the policy.
The scheme faced criticism as the Opposition has accused the government of colluding with developers to deprive farmers of their fertile land. They alleged that it would result in large-scale corruption, with ruling AAP leaders making money out of the acquisition process.
Commenting over the issue, state Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring had on Sunday alleged that the government intended to escape its responsibilities under the pro-farmer Land Acquisition Act.
He alleged that through the land pooling policy, the government aimed to “grab land of farmers without spending a penny in compensation, only to sell it to private companies and fulfil its populist promises in the last year of its term”.
However, the government has so far maintained that the initiative would spur urban development, with farmers and landowners getting plots of higher value than the cost of actual land contributed by them.
Under it, the government has planned to acquire over 65,000 acres, which will be utilised to develop townships near several cities, including industrial centre Ludhiana.
On Monday, Mann rejected all charges while terming the policy “pro-farmer”.
He said for each acre contributed, a landowner would get a residential plot of 1,000 sq yards and commercial property 200 sq yards.
Punjab