Overview

• The Punjab government approved the Land Pooling Policy on June 2 to guide sustainable and planned development across the state.
• Under the new scheme, farmers can voluntarily pool land and receive 1,000-square-yard residential plots and 200-square-yard commercial plots per acre on fully serviced sites.
• The policy explicitly prohibits forced acquisition and requires farmers’ written consent for any land transfer or development agreement.
• Officials say the move will dismantle land mafia networks by banning illegal colonies and integrating small and marginal farmers into formal urban expansion projects.
• The Shiromani Akali Dal has denounced the policy as anti-farmer even as the cabinet authorizes higher EDC, CLU, and licence fees to fund infrastructure growth.