Chandigarh, Aug 11 — The Punjab government on Monday announced the withdrawal of its land pooling policy, days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed its implementation and criticized the state for introducing it without environmental or social impact assessments.
The policy, unveiled in June by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government, aimed to acquire 65,533 acres — including 46,861 acres in Ludhiana — for development projects. However, it quickly drew sharp opposition from political parties, farmer unions, and even dissent within AAP ranks.
Last week, the high court rebuked the state for “notifying the policy in haste” and ordered a halt to its execution. The ruling added to the growing political discomfort within the party, with leaders urging the top brass to address farmer concerns before proceeding.
Sources said a meeting between senior bureaucrats involved in drafting the policy and AAP’s top leadership took place two days ago. Follow-up discussions continued until Monday morning, involving senior ministers and party leaders. “There was consensus that the policy had become politically disadvantageous,” a source close to the matter said. “The decision to withdraw it was made only hours before the announcement.”
Farmer groups had warned that the large-scale acquisition would disrupt livelihoods and damage agricultural output, while opposition parties accused the government of pushing the measure without adequate consultation.
With the withdrawal, the AAP government faces the task of drafting a fresh approach to land development that can withstand legal scrutiny and political pressure.
