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Punjab Cabinet Approves Charges for Village Land Encroachments

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab cabinet has approved a proposal empowering the government to impose charges on illegally occupied land designated for village common roads and watercourses. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that many panchayat paths and watercourses have been encroached upon by real estate developers and individuals. “We will form price fixation committees, led by the relevant deputy commissioners, to collect payments from those currently occupying the land. Revenue generated will be shared between the local body or panchayat and the state government,” he added. An amendment to the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, will facilitate this…

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Emperor Infratech to Complete 113-Acre Punjab Township for Parsvnath

NEW DELHI: Realty firm Parsvnath Developers Ltd announced on Tuesday a partnership with Emperor Infratech to develop a 113-acre township in Punjab. The project, located in Rajpura, Punjab, spans 112.856 acres and includes integrated amenities such as residential plots, group housing, commercial centers, clubs, and schools. Parsvnath has secured necessary licenses for the project’s construction and development from the relevant authorities. The company has signed a ‘Development Management’ agreement with Emperor Infratech Pvt Ltd, which will oversee aspects like development, completion, implementation, sales, and marketing of the project. Emperor Infratech is committed to completing the project promptly and assisting in…

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Opposition Grows to Proposed Building Rules in Punjab

BATHINDA: Several pro-environment organizations and activists have voiced strong objections to the proposed Punjab Unified Building Rules, 2025, likening them to a land-pooling policy. They contend that the draft favors builders over the general public by granting developers extensive powers. These organizations argue that Punjab’s residents are opposed to congested, unsafe, and unlivable urban areas. They express concerns that provisions for unlimited floor area ratio (FAR), increased population densities, habitable basements, commercializing residential spaces, relaxed fire safety standards, and loss of green areas will lead to concrete jungles. They believe that the proposed rules prioritize developer profits at the expense…

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PAC: Punjab Building Rules Inferior to Land Pooling

LUDHIANA: Members of a public action committee have voiced strong opposition to the draft Punjab Unified Building Rules 2025. They argue that the proposed regulations are even more detrimental than the land pooling scheme previously withdrawn by the state government due to public pressure, claiming it will exacerbate traffic congestion and other issues, undermining its intended purpose. The objections were presented by PAC (Mattewara) representatives—Jaskirat Singh, Kapil Arora, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, and Amandeep Bains—before the director of town and country planning on Thursday. The housing and urban development department had solicited public feedback on the Draft Punjab Unified Building Rules…

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Punjab Cabinet Approves Denotification of Land Pooling Policy

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet approved the denotification of the land pooling policy that the AAP government had recently retracted. This decision was made during a council of ministers meeting led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Cabinet announced the retraction of the housing and urban development department’s notification regarding the Land Pooling Policy 2025, originally issued on June 4, along with its subsequent amendments, according to a spokesperson from the chief minister’s office. In light of pressure from farmer organizations and opposition parties, the Punjab government officially withdrew the land pooling policy on August 11, despite initially branding it as…

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Land Pooling Policy Delayed Until Aug 7 Hearing: Punjab AG

CHANDIGARH: On Wednesday, the Punjab advocate general informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the land pooling policy would be paused, with no further actions anticipated before the next hearing scheduled for Thursday. This announcement was made in response to a petition filed by Gurdeep Singh Gill, contesting the Punjab government’s land pooling scheme. The court has set Thursday, August 7, as the date for the next hearing. During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court queried whether the policy included provisions for rehabilitating landless laborers. The state has also been instructed to clarify if an assessment of the social impacts was…

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Punjab Cabinet Greenlights Changes to Land Pooling Policy

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet has approved revisions to its land pooling policy, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticizing opposition parties for what he calls misinformation about the scheme. Mann refuted claims from the opposition that the policy would “rob” farmers of their land, asserting that the agricultural community is supportive of the initiative. Last month, the Punjab Cabinet endorsed this land pooling policy, ensuring that no land will be forcibly acquired from owners. After a Cabinet meeting, Mann stated that the opposition’s assertion that land registries will cease once a notification is issued is unfounded. He explained that if an…

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Punjab Increases Land Pooling Offers: Farmers Get ₹1 Lakh/Year

CHANDIGARH: Facing criticism from opposition parties and farmers, the Punjab government announced an increase in incentives under its land pooling policy on Monday. Landowners will now receive an annual compensation of ₹50,000 per acre before the government takes possession, escalating to ₹1 lakh per acre post-acquisition. Punjab Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian stated that farmers would receive the first payment of ₹50,000 within 21 days of applying for the scheme, along with a letter of interest. If land development takes 2-3 years, the compensation will increase by 10% each year, Mundian shared after meeting with residents of 164 villages affected…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Mohali District Collects ₹11.43 Crore in 19 Days via OTS

MOHALI: In a significant development for the Punjab government’s initiative to collect pending property taxes, the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Mohali district have garnered an impressive Rs 11.43 crore within just 19 days through the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme. Commending the enthusiastic participation of citizens, Mohali Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal noted that the remarkable revenue collected from July 1 to July 19 demonstrates the effectiveness of the scheme introduced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, which is designed to provide substantial relief on outstanding property tax liabilities. As per official reports, Zirakpur led the collections with Rs 7.53 crore,…

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Punjab to Revise Banur Master Plan, Zone Agri Land for Homes

MOHALI: To promote urban development, the Punjab government plans to amend the Banur Master Plan, transforming extensive agricultural land into residential zones. This change is proposed for several villages within the Banur revenue estate and is currently open for public feedback. The Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Punjab, has suggested modifications in the ‘Proposed Land Use Plan, Banur’, aiming to redesignate agricultural lands in villages such as Naugiari, Giga Majra, Hulka, Kalauli, Menda Majra, Mote Majra, Nadiali, Manakpur Kallar, Kurara, Tangori, Jhansli, and Sekhan Majra as residential. According to sources in the directorate, the amendments will reorganize the township…