Gmada to acquire 2,600 acres of land across Mohali to curb mushrooming of unauthorised colonies
: In a significant push towards curbing the mushrooming of illegal and unauthorised colonies, the
Greater Mohali Area Development Authority
(Gmada) is set to acquire land across the city. The
Punjab
govt has approved the acquisition of nearly 2,600 acres of land across various sectors for commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential use.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the executive committee of Gmada here Friday. It was chaired by state chief secretary KAP Sinha.
As per the plan, 236 acres will be acquired in Sector 87 for commercial purposes, 313 acres in Sector 84 for institutional projects, and 321 acres in sectors 101 to 103 for industrial use. The biggest chunk — 1,800 acres — will be acquired in sectors 120 to 124 along the PR-7 road for residential development.
The acquisition is expected to begin within a month, pending final approval from chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who also heads the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority.
A senior Gmada official confirmed that with this move, no Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions will be granted to private developers in the targeted areas. "This will ensure regulated development and curb the unchecked spread of unauthorised colonies," he explained.
Particularly in sectors 120 to 123, several unauthorised colonies have mushroomed across nearly 50 acres in villages like Daun, Raipur, Behlolpur, Barmajra, Tarauli, and Jhampur. These were carved out of agricultural land without CLU approvals or the required official clearances.
The chief administrator has directed officials to submit a report within two days to fix responsibility for such violations. Authorities have also been instructed to use Google satellite imagery to identify illegal constructions and take immediate legal action.
The move is seen as a firm step towards enforcing urban planning norms and preventing haphazard growth in one of Punjab's fastest developing regions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
GMADA's land pooling policy faces major setback in Mohali
1 2 Mohali: The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority's (GMADA) ambitious land pooling policy faced a near-total rejection in Mohali, with only 51 applications received from nearly 8,000 eligible landowners after a two-month campaign aimed at acquiring 2,600 acres for urban development. The scheme, aimed at regulated expansion across Sectors 84, 87, 101–103, and 120–124 along the PR-7 road, has met with strong resistance from local farmers and political parties alike. Protests have already been held by the Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal is set to launch a similar agitation in the coming days. Farmer groups from villages such as Patton, Siaou, Badi, Kishanpura, Kurdi, and Matran have submitted a formal memorandum to chief minister Bhagwant Mann, opposing the policy. According to GMADA officials, only 45 farmers from Mohali district submitted applications under the scheme, highlighting the overwhelming lack of interest. The land pooling policy was launched to acquire land for planned commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential projects. GMADA maintains that the move is critical to curbing unauthorised colonies that are rapidly emerging on agricultural land, particularly in villages such as Daun, Raipur, Behlolpur, Barmajra, Tarauli, and Jhampur, where illegal developments reportedly spanned over 50 acres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo The landowners of Mullanpur, where Eco-City-III is proposed and for which land is to be acquired, also rejected the policy, terming it anti-farmer, especially for those having small chunks of land. The policy is beneficial for those holding larger chunks of land. "GMADA is offering compensation far below market value. We are the rightful owners of our land and will not part with it on these terms," said Harvinder Singh Lambardar, a farmer leader representing the agitating landowners. He accused the govt of attempting to dispossess small and marginal farmers for the benefit of big developers, calling the policy "exploitative and unfair." Farmers have also alleged that coercive tactics are being used, including police pressure, to compel them into joining the land pooling scheme. "Many of us with less than five acres stand to lose the most, while the bigger landholders benefit," said another protesting farmer. Action Ordered Against Illegal Colonies Concerned about the rapid mushrooming of such unauthorised colonies, GMADA's chief administrator has ordered officials to submit a report within two days, identifying violations and fixing responsibility. The use of Google satellite imagery has also been approved to trace illegal constructions and initiate action against violators. The administration has made it clear that no Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions will be granted to private developers in the earmarked zones. Political and Administrative Fallout A senior GMADA officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the poor response to the scheme. "We tried to convince farmers, but only 51 showed interest initially. The sentiment is very negative," the officer said. As opposition parties intensify their protests and public backlash grows, the future of GMADA's land pooling policy in Mohali remains uncertain and politically sensitive. With participation numbers failing to pick up, the administration may soon have to re-evaluate the policy or consider alternative land acquisition models that take into account the concerns of the farming community. GMADA's acquisition plans - 236 acres in Sector 87 for commercial purposes, - 313 acres in Sector 84 for institutional use, - 321 acres in Sectors 101 to 103 for industrial projects - 1,800 acres in Sectors 120 to 124 along the PR-7 road for residential development. MSID: 122862229 413 |
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Cong rift surfaces in Mohali: Dy mayor, ex-min spar over land-pooling scheme
1 2 Mohali: Internal fissures within the Punjab Congress came out in the open as deputy mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi and former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu faced off over alleged remarks made during a recent protest against the land pooling scheme in Mohali. The controversy erupted during a Congress-led protest outside the GMADA office, where Sidhu, while addressing the gathering, allegedly made objectionable remarks against Bedi. Reacting to this, Bedi held a press conference on Tuesday, accusing Sidhu of political vendetta and "high-handedness" within the party ranks. "I was not present when the remarks were made, but several people informed me about what was said by Sidhu," Bedi claimed, adding that he viewed the remarks as a targeted attempt to malign his political image. However, in a bid to prevent the infighting from escalating, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring intervened and advised Bedi to refrain from making any public statements on the matter for now. "I have been directed by the party president to hold back my words until he returns from the Parliament session in Delhi," Bedi stated, confirming that he already submitted a formal complaint against Sidhu to the party high command. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The clash is seen as part of an intensifying rivalry between the two leaders, both of whom are eyeing the Congress ticket for the upcoming Assembly elections from Mohali. While Balbir Singh Sidhu previously won the Mohali seat three times and served as a cabinet minister in Captain Amarinder Singh's govt, Bedi held two terms as councillor and currently serves as the city's Deputy Mayor. The incident has added to the growing list of internal tensions within the Punjab Congress, even as the party looks to consolidate its position ahead of the 2027 state polls. Party insiders suggest that a closed-door reconciliation may take place once Warring returns to Chandigarh.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
At hometurf, Mann's warning to BJP leaders: ‘Refrain from jeopardising development work in Punjab'
Slamming the BJP for creating 'unnecessary obstacles' in developmental projects, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday warned its leaders to 'refrain from cheap tactics to jeopardise the state's development'. Mann was at Sanatan Dharamshala in Dhuri, Sangrur district in Punjab, where he handed over cheques worth Rs 3.07 crore for several development projects. Asserting though the Punjab government is set to construct a railway over bridge (ROB) in Dhuri — for which it has received permission from the Ministry of Railways — several 'politicians with vested interests are creating hurdles in the project commencement'. Mann said: 'The estimated project cost is nearly Rs 54.74 crore, and once the ROB is built, the railway crossing (phatak) would be closed, affecting the market below the ROB. So, for usual market operations, we proposed that the level crossing gate below the ROB should not be closed. However, the Ministry of Railways said it could not be done 'as per their rules'… Therefore, we (the state government) decided to fully fund the ROB project.' However, a senior Punjab BJP leader recently visited Dhuri and issued a statement to 'scuttle the project for his vested political interests', Mann said, adding 'such theatricals will not be tolerated, and the wise people of Punjab will teach a befitting lesson to such politicians'. Notably, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu — who visited Dhuri a few weeks ago — had said the 'ROB project was already approved by the Railways, and the Punjab Chief Minister was just taking fake credit'. Asserting he is in contact with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding the ROB project, Mann said: 'We have sought permission from the Railways regarding the project work (with the funds released, and already in place). The work will commence soon.' On the cards: sports stadium, UPSC coaching centre Mann further announced that in Dhuri, the state government will build a modern sports stadium, and UPSC coaching centre (among the eight to be established across Punjab), at the earliest. The construction work of the Sangrur Medical College will also commence soon, he added. Several initiatives for facilitating new industrial units and expanding the existing ones are also in place, Mann said. He further hailed initiatives like the Sadak Suraksha Force for 'road safety', and the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna for 'cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family', among others. On advancing paddy transplantation in the state, Mann said the Punjab government has appealed to the Centre to prepone the paddy procurement by 15 days i.e. from September 15 onwards, 'so that farmers can sell the crop smoothly'. 'This will enable farmers to bring moisture-free grains to mandis, thereby, ensuring a smooth procurement,' he said. Public library inaugurated Later in the day, Mann inaugurated a public library, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.59 crore, in his constituency Dhuri. The newly built two-storey building has a covered area of 3,710 square feet, and is equipped with WiFi and solar power digital analogs. 'This library has world-class books on contemporary literature and curriculum books, providing a rich learning experience,' Mann was quoted as saying in a statement. 'The state government is implementing a plan to establish modern libraries in every Assembly constituency…,' he said, adding this initiative is a major step towards promoting education, literacy, and community development in rural areas. -With PTI inputs
