MOHALI, July 10 — The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority’s (GMADA) ambitious land pooling scheme for acquiring 2,600 acres across multiple sectors has hit a major roadblock, with only 15 landowners out of more than 8,000 giving consent so far.
The policy, intended to pave the way for residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional projects in sectors including 84, 87, 101, 103, and 120–125, is being met with stiff resistance from local farmers who have launched protests, alleging forced acquisition and inadequate compensation.
“We are the rightful residents and cultivators of these lands. We do not consent to register our land with GMADA,” said Harvinder Singh, a lambardar from one of the protesting villages.
On July 7, representatives from multiple villages submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann through the GMADA chief administrator, demanding an immediate rollback of the scheme. Several panchayats have also passed formal resolutions opposing the project.
Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian maintained that land acquisition will begin within three to four months. When questioned about the poor response, he said, “I’ll check the data and revert,” but insisted the scheme was “for the benefit of farmers.”
However, memories of previous land acquisition projects continue to fuel distrust. Farmers pointed to the 2009 Aerocity acquisition, claiming many landowners are still waiting for compensation or the promised plot allotments. “If the government charges 18% interest for delay in payments from citizens, why aren’t farmers compensated with interest for delayed allotments?” the memorandum asked.
Protesters further accused GMADA of favouring private developers in earlier projects. “In Aerotropolis, land was handed over to politically connected builders who are now selling luxury apartments for crores, while we got barren land without roads, sewerage, or electricity,” a farmer said.
The allegations extend to projects in Sectors 88 and 89, acquired in 2011. Many farmers say they were later allotted plots in far-off Sectors 95-A and 95-B, which remain largely undeveloped. “The booths and rooms given to us are unusable. We can’t even rent them out for another 15 years,” said another protester.
Despite official assurances, the deepening farmer anger and the negligible participation rate suggest GMADA may face an uphill battle in executing its latest land pooling vision unless a major course correction is undertaken.
