Latest news with #LandPoolingPolicy
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bajwa urges speaker to prioritise critical issues in extended assembly session
Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa has written to Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, reiterating his demand for a dedicated discussion on two critical issues during the extended Special Session scheduled for July 14 and 15. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa stressed the need for meaningful, transparent and accountable debate. (HT) In his letter, Bajwa reminded the Speaker that the extension of the session followed a verbal assurance to the Congress party that one day each would be allocated to deliberate on the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, and the highly controversial Land Pooling Policy. While the extension was approved, Bajwa stated it had not yet been honoured, as these matters were still not listed in the official agenda. He expressed deep concern that the anti-sacrilege law, which was originally the focal point for convening the Special Session, remained pending as the draft was not prepared yet. 'This is a matter of immense constitutional and emotional significance for the people of Punjab. The AAP government must offer clarity on it,' Bajwa emphasised. Highlighting the risk of symbolism overtaking substance, Bajwa cautioned that unless the law and order crisis and Land Pooling Policy were explicitly mentioned in the List of Business, the additional sittings would be reduced to an exercise in optics. He stressed the need for meaningful, transparent and accountable debate. Bajwa urged the Speaker once again to ensure that both these issues find their rightful place in the Business Agenda, in order to uphold the credibility and seriousness of the assembly's proceedings. He warned that failing to do so would undermine the very purpose for which the extension was sought and granted.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab's land pooling policy and its criticism
A land pooling policy, meant to acquire more than 40,000 acres of farmland for housing purposes, has triggered protests in Punjab. Here's why. The Land Pooling Policy, 2025 is a flagship initiative of the Punjab government with the stated aim of promoting 'planned urban development'. Unlike in traditional land acquisition, where the state simply acquires land for compensation, the pooling initiative is meant to be voluntary. The policy seeks to check the proliferation of illegal colonies and arrest haphazard urban growth, while ensuring landowners remain stakeholders in development, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said. For every 1 acre of land pooled, landowners will get a 1,000 sq yard residential plot and a 200 sq yard commercial plot (1 acre= 4,840 sq yards). In the case of larger contributions, for every 9 acres of pooled land the landowners will get 3 acres of developed land, suitable for group housing. For 50 acres pooled, they will get 30 acres of developed land. The policy is currently being rolled out in 27 cities across Punjab, in districts such as Ludhiana (24,000 acres targeted), Mohali (6,000 acres), Amritsar (4,464 acres), Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, and Sangrur. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is looking to generate roughly Rs 20,000 to 25,000 crore from the land pooling. With state elections set to take place by March 2027, the government has roughly a year-and-a-half to rule before the model code of conduct kicks in. Forcible land acquisition is a long process susceptible to arduous legal wrangling. The government anticipates that the voluntary pooling route will cut short the time for land acquisition while simultaneously helping generate funds for the cash-strapped state, sources said. These funds, sources indicate, might be used to finance the AAP government's ambitious pre-poll promise of paying a monthly sum of Rs 1,000 to all women in the state. Experts, however, argue that the policy needlessly diverts fertile agricultural land for urban use. 'By diverting almost 40,000 acres from agriculture to cities, we will lose almost 1.50 lakh tons of paddy production. Unfortunately, in most parts, the land is fertile,' one expert told The Indian Express. Punjab BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar has called this a 'ponzi scheme,' and accused the government of exploiting farmers with false promises. SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal has announced statewide protests against the move, calling it a 'land-grabbing scheme' designed to raise Rs 10,000 crore through bribes and benefit private developers. Critics say that the policy, based on the Punjab Regional Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, lacks the safeguards for compensation and resettlement provided under the Central Land Acquisition Act of 2013.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi rising: A rare opportunity to shape capital's future
Delhi, India's historic and political heart, stands at a pivotal moment. For decades, it has been a city of immense potential, rich in culture, talent, and connectivity. However, despite its stature, Delhi today finds itself falling behind neighbouring cities like Gurugram and Noida in terms of infrastructure, housing, and investment. The slow stagnation has been painful to witness for those of us who have called Delhi home for generations. While Gurugram and Noida have become magnets for businesses, startups, and new housing, Delhi's middle class is increasingly priced out of the city. Home ownership for a regular working family has become a distant dream. Many of my peers, friends, former government officials, professionals, and civil servants have had to leave Delhi to find homes in satellite cities, even as their social life and loyalties remain rooted in the capital. I, too, was forced to move to Gurugram—not out of choice, but necessity. The real issue isn't a lack of land; it's a lack of coordinated development. Delhi spans 1,483 square km, yet only 703 of these are developed. This leaves nearly 783 square km of untapped potential—urban land that could be harnessed for planned growth, housing, infrastructure, and economic activity. The key to unlocking this lies in two powerful policy tools: the Master Plan for Delhi 2041 (MPD 2041) and the Land Pooling Policy (LPP). Together, these tools provide a visionary but practical roadmap for the capital. If executed well, the LPP could release 20,000 to 25,000 acres of land—enough to create over 2 million homes for 8 million people. This transformative opportunity presents itself for Delhi, which desperately needs affordable and inclusive housing. For the first time in recent memory, there's alignment across the four major institutions that govern Delhi: the elected Delhi government, the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Union government, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This rare political and administrative consensus offers us a unique opportunity to act decisively and collaboratively. What could this future look like? First, it means homes for all. The LPP can significantly increase the supply of residential units, ease price pressures, and make homeownership more accessible to working families, young professionals, and even retirees. Instead of being forced to relocate to Noida or Gurugram, Delhiites could once again live affordably within their own city. Second, this policy would boost economic activity. Large-scale development will require the construction of roads, schools, public transport, health facilities, and commercial hubs, each generating jobs and opportunities across construction, logistics, real estate, education, and services. In essence, this is not just a housing policy; it's an economic stimulus with long-term implications. Third, it ensures dignity for Delhi's village communities. Many of these villages are situated on valuable land but have been neglected due to unplanned development and a lack of infrastructure. This has led to the rise of unauthorised colonies and increased inequality. Under the LPP, landowners become stakeholders in the city's progress, benefiting from structured development and a share in the value created. It's important to note that we are not starting from scratch. Delhi has already laid the groundwork through policy design, consultations, and pilot efforts. The blueprint is in place. What's needed now is rapid, transparent, and accountable implementation. We have examples to draw from. Over the past decade, Gurugram has added over 50 million square feet of office space, transforming itself into a corporate and commercial hub. Noida is quickly becoming a model for integrated townships, logistics parks, and digital innovation. Delhi, with its legacy infrastructure and central location, has every advantage—what it needs now is momentum. This is not just a city planning exercise; it's a question of Delhi's future. Will it continue to push its workforce, families, and heritage communities to the margins? Or will it rise to become the inclusive, thriving capital its residents deserve? As citizens, administrators, and policymakers, we must treat this as a now-or-never moment. The convergence of vision, land, and governance is extremely rare in Indian urban planning. Delaying action would not only cost us time but also trust. It would push more families out of Delhi, deepen inequality, and lock up billions in idle land value. But the alternative is inspiring. We can build a Delhi that's affordable and aspirational—a city that offers stability to the middle class, opportunity to the youth, and dignity to its village communities. A city where planning is proactive, not reactive; where growth is inclusive, not exclusionary. With MPD 2041 and the LPP, we have the means to create such a future—not decades from now, but in the coming years. Delhi is waiting—for action, for leadership, and for belief. This is our moment to act. Let's do it in a timeframe, because 'Yeh hai Dilli meri Jaan!' Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Mint
04-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Punjab Cabinet approves amendment to Shops Act to reduce compliance burden on small businesses
Chandigarh, Jun 4 (PTI) The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, aimed at reducing compliance burdens on small businesses and enhancing the ease of doing business in the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. It was the third cabinet meeting held in a row. The council of ministers first held a meeting on Monday in which it approved the Land Pooling Policy and then on Tuesday it waived ₹ 68 crore debt of Scheduled Caste families. Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Mann said the cabinet approved an amendment in the Punjab Shop and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 and it is aimed at completely freeing shopkeepers from the "Inspector Raj." Under this amendment, all establishments employing up to 20 workers will be exempted from all provisions of the Act, he said, adding that it will cover 95 per cent of shops and commercial establishments in the state. The registration work under the law will now be applicable for shops employing over 20 persons, he said. An official spokesperson of the chief minister's office said this move is expected to directly benefit lakhs of shopkeepers across Punjab. However, such establishments will still be required to submit relevant information to the labour department within six months of the Act coming into force or the commencement of their business, said the spokesperson. To enhance employee earnings, the permissible overtime in a quarter has been increased from 50 hours to 144 hours. Additionally, the daily spread-over period of work has been extended from 10 hours to 12 hours, inclusive of rest intervals, said the spokesperson. Nevertheless, employees must be paid overtime at double the regular rate for work exceeding 9 hours per day or 48 hours per week, he said. The registration process has also been streamlined and establishments with 20 or more employees will now receive deemed approval for registration within 24 hours of application submission. Under the amendment, establishments employing up to 20 workers are only required to provide basic information and are not obligated to register, said the spokesperson. Moreover, penalties under the law have been rationalized, raising the minimum fine from ₹ 25 to ₹ 1,000 and the maximum from ₹ 100 to ₹ 30,000 for any violation. To prevent harassment and allow businesses time to achieve compliance, a three-month grace period will be provided between the first and second offences, as well as subsequent ones, said the spokesperson. A new Section 26A has also been introduced to allow for the compounding of offences, thereby decriminalizing the Act and eliminating the need for shopkeepers to attend court. Meanwhile, all the securities and rights provided by various labour laws will be adhered to for safeguarding the interests of the labourers, said the spokesperson.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab cabinet approves land pooling policy
CHANDIGARH : The Punjab Cabinet on Monday gave its nod to the Land Pooling Policy with Cabinet minister Aman Arora asserting that not even a single yard will be forcibly acquired from land owners. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann , was held here. After the meeting, renewable energy minister Arora slammed the opposition parties for allegedly misleading people about the state government's Land Pooling Policy for the past several days. Arora claimed that there is no better Land Pooling Policy than this one, not only in the state but also in the country. Pointing towards the opposition parties, Arora said they were trying to mislead people about the Policy that farmers' land will be forcibly acquired by the state government. "I want to make it clear that not even a single yard will be acquired (by the state government)," he said, adding that the Cabinet approved the Land Pooling Policy. Under this policy, land owners can give their land either to the state government or a builder or they can develop the land on their own, he said. In the first phase, this Policy will be implemented in 27 big cities, the minister said while speaking to reporters here. Attacking the previous governments, Arora alleged that they framed such policies which only benefited the land mafia and promoted vested interests. Giving details, Arora said under this Policy, a land owner will be given a 1,000 square yards of residential plot and a 200 square yards of commercial plot in fully-developed land in lieu of one acre of land. He further said if anybody contributes nine acres of land, he will be given three acres of land for developing a group housing. It meant that one-third of pooled land will be returned to the land owner, he said. Opposition parties and some farmer groups have been targeting the AAP government, claiming that it has proposed to acquire 24,311 acres of land in Ludhiana to develop new urban estates. The state government had earlier said the Land Pooling Policy was designed to foster transparent and planned urban development across the state.
