Punjab govt takes ‘U’ turn on Land Pooling Policy
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ August 11,2025
In a major decision, Punjab government has withdrawn the Land Pooling Policy dated May 14,2025 and its subsequent amendments.
Consequently, all actions like LOIs issued, registration done or any other action taken thereunder shall be reversed henceforth” said Vikas Garg, Principal secretary, department of housing and urban development, Punjab.
After lots of pressure from farmers, landowners and ruling party leaders the Punjab government has withdrawn its controversial land pooling policy, just four days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed its operation for four weeks. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann signed the withdrawal file on Monday evening.
The stay order dated August 7 was passed by Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda on a petition moved by a resident of Ludhiana, who owns six acres of land that had been allotted to his father as a displaced person from Pakistan.
As resentment grew, the main opposition party Congress, as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP, launched a series of protests.
As per rough estimate, at least 115-120 panchayats had passed resolutions refusing to offer land under the scheme after AAP government intended to acquire 65,533 acres in Punjab out of which 46,861 acres of which is located in Ludhiana under land pooling policy.
As per reports, it was to be the biggest acquisition of land by the government since the state of Punjab got its current form in 1966. But only 115 owners — 15 from Ludhiana and 100 from Mohali — came forth to adopt the scheme since its formal launch on June 2. It was to stay open till September 30.
On the other hand Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Monday said that Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government has always been a government of the farmers—placing their interests at the forefront from day one.
The Cabinet Minister said that Whether it was waiving off farm loans, fighting for better prices for crops, improving irrigation facilities, or providing relief in electricity bills—every step has been taken with the welfare of farmers in mind. He said that in line with this vision, the Land Pooling Policy 2025 was also introduced. Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the objective was to make farmers active stakeholders in development, significantly increase the value of their land, and connect them with modern infrastructure and facilities.
