Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh/ SAS Nagar-
Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has openly challenged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to a public debate on the Land Pooling Policy, accusing the Chief Minister of misleading the public by claiming that land will only be acquired with farmers’ consent.
Sidhu said the policy nowhere guarantees that land will be acquired only with consent. Instead, it explicitly mentions that land falling within project boundaries will be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Additionally, under provisions related to mega projects, the government is empowered to acquire up to 10 percent of the total project area to fill any "critical gap." He cited a recent example where GMADA, on July 9, issued a notification to acquire 23 acres of land in Pantpur, Bansepur, Saini Majra, Ranimajra, Dhodemajra, and Bharojian villages for a project by Omaxe Ltd in New Chandigarh.
The Congress leader alleged that these provisions essentially allow the government to forcibly acquire land, despite claims of voluntary participation. He also highlighted a clause in the policy that denies CLU permission to farmers who choose not to participate. This, he said, effectively strips landowners of their right to do business on or sell their land in the future.
Sidhu further criticized the clause that prohibits the government from accepting land from farmers once the project is completed—calling it a coercive tactic to pressure farmers into giving up their land prematurely.
He also targeted the state ministers defending the policy, stating that while the policy uses the word “consent,” it holds little value when numbers are already notified and farmers are merely asked to give their approval post facto. He lamented that an earlier provision—where landowners could opt for either a land plot in exchange or receive four times the market price with a displacement allowance—has now been scrapped.
The former minister accused the policy of violating key provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, particularly by ignoring the legally mandated SIA. This survey evaluates the nutritional, physical, environmental, economic, social, educational, and psychological impacts of land acquisition on vulnerable groups such as landless people, farm laborers, small shopkeepers, tenants, and artisans.
Sidhu also raised concerns about the lack of clarity in the policy regarding rehabilitation—there are no details about how, where, or when displaced families will be resettled or how unemployed people affected by the acquisition will be supported.
Calling the policy anti-farmer, Sidhu warned that if a farmer gives ‘consent’ under this policy, they forfeit their right to approach the courts for enhanced compensation—something that was previously possible under traditional acquisition processes.