The AAP government in Punjab withdrew its land pooling policy on Monday amid heavy opposition from rival political parties and farmer bodies. The Bhagwant Mann government, which had vehemently defended the policy, suffered a setback from the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the policy's implementation was stayed for a month last week.
Under the now-cancelled policy, landowners would have received a 1,000 square yard residential plot and a 200 square yard commercial plot on fully developed land in exchange for each acre they contributed. On Monday evening, the principal secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department announced: "The government is hereby rescinding the land pooling policy from 14 May and all its subsequent modifications." The statement added: "As a result, all related measures, including issued letters of intent, completed registrations, and any other actions taken under this policy, will be reversed moving forward."
On 7 August, the high court issued an interim stay on the policy, determining that it appeared to have been hastily implemented without addressing crucial concerns such as social and environmental impact assessments prior to its announcement.
The AAP government under Bhagwant Mann had faced severe criticism from opposition parties and farming organisations, who characterised the land pooling policy as a "plundering" initiative designed to "steal" farmers' land. Multiple opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP, and Congress, organised numerous demonstrations against the policy, whilst various agricultural groups, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, had also planned protests and rallies. The AAP had responded to opposition parties by accusing them of spreading "misinformation" about the state government's policy, with party officials defending it as "pro-farmer."
