punjab-hikes-relief-for-acquired-land

The Punjab Cabinet, on Tuesday, approved an increase in the annual compensation for farmers whose land is to be acquired, from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre.

 

It was decided at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that residential plots and commercial sites would be allotted to farmers whose small landholdings ranging from 1 kanal to 7 kanals are acquired.

 

While a farmer giving up 1 kanal of land through pooling will get a residential plot of 125 square yards and a booth of 25 square yards, a person parting with 7 kanals will receive three residential plots of 500, 250 and 125 square yards, an SCO (shop-cum-office) of 100 square yards and a shop site of 75 square yards. In case a farmer opts out of a commercial site, the size of the residential site allotted to him will be three times larger.

 

“The Cabinet also approved the enhanced compensation till the development work on the acquired land begins. Farmers will be allowed to continue cultivation and retain the income generated,” said Mann, emphasising that no one will be forced to part with their land.

 

A Letter of Intent (LoI) offering a 1,000 square yard residential plot and a 200 square yard commercial plot in lieu of 1 acre of land will be issued within 21 days of a farmer opting for land acquisition through land pooling. Farmers can take loans against the Letter of Intent and the registration of sale deeds for such land has not been stopped, the CM said.

 

Countering the claims of the Opposition, Mann said, “They are spreading false propaganda. The commercial sites to be allotted to farmers will help them earn a livelihood. I am also a Punjabi. Why would I bring a policy to displaces the villagers?”

 

After handing over cheques to a group of sarpanches at a function near Dhuri in Sangrur district on Monday, Mann had stressed that the policy would not only lead to the development of legal colonies, but also keep a check on cases of cheating involving unscrupulous builders coming up with unauthorised colonies.

 

Criticising the land pooling policy, 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.