Punjab ups land pooling stakes, farmers to get Rs 1L/acre yearly
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Chandigarh: Under fire from opposition and farm groups, the Punjab govt on Monday increased the incentive for farmers in its land pooling policy, saying that landowners will be paid an annual amount of Rs 50,000 per acre before govt takes possession of land and then increase this amount to Rs 1 lakh per acre after it takes possession.
Punjab housing minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said state govt would give the first installment of Rs 50,000 within 21 days of a landowner applying for the scheme and would issue a letter of interest to the farm in the same time period. If the govt takes 2-3 years to develop the land, the lease amount will be increased by 10% every year, said Mundian, who he met residents of 164 villages covered under the scheme. "The decision will be approved by the state cabinet in its next meeting," added Mundian.
Later, an official said a meeting of the state cabinet had been convened on Tuesday morning. Mundian had met landowners to take feedback about the scheme. Mundian said until development starts, farmers would be able to continue farming on their land and would be eligible for the money made from it.
The minister said the state govt would continue holding meetings with farmers from villages covered under the scheme. He added farmers will receive residential and commercial plots under the scheme, alleging that previous govts encouraged illegal colonies to benefit select individuals, leading to unplanned urban development, while colony residents remained deprived of basic amenities.
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"The new scheme will ensure that commercial properties in planned colonies become a permanent source of income for farmers," he said.
Earlier in the day, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann defended the scheme, calling it a pro-farmer initiative aimed at boosting development and generating long-term income for rural landowners. Speaking at an event in Dhuri, where he distributed more than Rs 31 crore in grants to 70 villages for development projects, Mann said the scheme didn't involve any forcible acquisition of land.
"Farmers will now become long-term stakeholders in Punjab's progress," he added.
(Inputs from Patiala)
Farmers protest in Amritsar
Amritsar: Hundreds of farmers gathered at the deputy commissioner's office here on Monday to protest against the land pooling policy of the govt. Kashmir Singh, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta), claimed that the Punjab govt was using the policy to displace farmers and seize their land. Under the policy, a notification was issued to acquire land in 22 villages of Amritsar. A total of 4,464 acres of land will be acquired from these villages, which will be a grave injustice, Kashmir Singh added.
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