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Punjab Government Withdraws Land Pooling Policy Amid Strong Backlash
The Punjab government has officially withdrawn its controversial Land Pooling Policy 2025, announced earlier this year. The decision came just days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a temporary stay on the scheme, citing legal and procedural shortcomings. The court noted the absence of key elements such as environmental and social impact assessments, a grievance redressal system, and clear rehabilitation and timeline guidelines.
What Led to the Withdrawal
The policy sought to pool over 65,000 acres of agricultural land across 164 villages—around 45,000 acres in Ludhiana alone—for development into residential and commercial plots in exchange for landowners receiving a portion of the developed land. Despite amendments that offered improved compensation and additional assurances, the scheme faced strong opposition. Farmers, landowners, opposition parties, and even some AAP members criticised it as a threat to livelihoods and a form of land grabbing. Protests intensified, with villagers in some areas preventing AAP representatives from entering.
Government Backs Down
Amid growing public anger and internal dissent, the AAP-led state government decided to scrap the policy. A statement from the Housing and Urban Development Department confirmed that all actions under the policy, including issuance of Letters of Intent and registrations, would be nullified with immediate effect.
