Punjab Cabinet approves withdrawal of land pooling policy

The Punjab Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today approved the formal withdrawal of the land pooling policy. The state government had announced the withdrawal of this policy a few days ago amid protests by farmers.

Under this, 65,533 acres of land were to be acquired in 164 villages of the state. The state’s farmers’ organizations had announced to continue the struggle until the notification was cancelled in the cabinet meeting. This policy was brought by the Bhagwant Mann government in May.

The government had claimed that this policy would make farmers partners in urban development and increase the value of their land, but the government faced heavy opposition on it. The Punjab-Haryana High Court had also raised questions on this policy and had stayed it.