Groups, activists oppose govt’s plan to acquire 24,000 acre land in 32 villages

Office-bearers and activists of various outfits have announced plans to launch an agitation to prevent the Punjab Government, led by Bhagwant Singh Mann, from acquiring more than 24,000 acres of land belonging to 32 villages in Ludhiana district.

The government’s proposal to acquire 24,311 acres for the development of urban estates has been described as anti-farmer and an assault on agriculture and the environment.

State chief of CPI (M) Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was intent on destabilising the agro-based economy and the state’s ecosystem through the forcible acquisition of fertile land for non-agricultural purposes.

“The proposal, if allowed to mature, would metamorphose the picturesque and basic nature of the environment as there will be no fields in the region,” said Sekhon, adding that “thousands of youths would be rendered unemployed with destabilisation of the farmers and professionals providing them various services.”

Sekhon warned that the party would launch a stir if the proposal was not withdrawn soon.

General secretary of the Bhaie Lalo Lok Manch and former legislator Tarsem Jodhan said it was shocking that the Punjab Government had passed a proposal to acquire land near Ludhiana city, which landowners had preserved for generations.

“We personally know hundreds of families from 32 villages in danger of elimination, who had chosen to bear starvation rather than sell their land during bad times. But the AAP government, with intent to appease their masters in corporate houses and developers, has not bothered to realise the ground reality,” said Jodhan, describing the decision as especially condemnable since it was made without consulting all stakeholders.

Jodhan added that a coordinated movement would soon be launched by involving office-bearers and activists of like-minded democratic outfits.

“We have assured the affected residents of all 32 villages that we would not allow injustice to prevail and their land would be saved at all costs,” he asserted.

Baldev Latala, an office-bearer of the state body of the All India Kisan Sabha, said an organised action would be launched after consultation with senior functionaries in the Sabha.

Ludhiana