The Hindu : National : Punjab Govt. `ignored' proposal of farmers

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Monday, Dec 04, 2006
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Punjab Govt. `ignored' proposal of farmers

Sarabjit Pandher

"Public-private partnership" in development of the State

CHANDIGARH: Punjab government while pursuing its much proclaimed "public-private partnership" in development of the state, has ostensibly ignored not only a "land pooling" proposal by farmers but also the advice of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to ensure a stake of landowners, especially in housing projects.

As part of its "master plan" under the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to lay out 38 new sectors and six pockets, the state government proposes to acquire 417 acres of land in 11 villages to set up a "Knowledge City" to house the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) as well as national institutes for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology. In September this year the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the IISER.

Under aegis of Kissan Hit Bachao Committee (KHBC) farmers from these villages have been on a chain hunger strike since May 17, 2004, to oppose the decisions of the state government, which it argues are loaded in favour of the private developers. The committee's President, Tejinder Singh underlines that while they were not against the any development, their protest was against inadequate compensation offered for their small land holdings, which would cause major dislocation and unemployment.

Claiming advocacy of their proposal, the KHBC points out that through his letter to the Chief Minister on August 18, this year, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh had advised the state government to "look at effective measures to ensure that farmers get a stake in the subsequent development that happens on land acquired from them to reduce their sense of grievance and also make them stakeholders in the long term progress of the areas they belong to."

The farmers in various representations, have sought a land pooling, under which they offer their lands "completely free of cost" in lieu of 1125 square yards of residential and 121 square yards of commercial for every acre developed by any agency. It is argued that if the state government agrees to land pooling, PUDA could earn a profit of around Rs 50,000 crore, without making any investment.

The KHBC General Secretary, B.S. Baidwan while alleging that the Prime Minister's advice was not being adhered to, reminded that the Punjab Government in December 1996, when Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was the Chief Minister, had launched the land pooling scheme, refers to similar systems being followed in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka. He contends that if acceded to, their proposal could save the government nearly Rs 200 crore in sector 81 alone, as it would not have payment compensation and would avoid related litigation.

Interaction of `The Hindu' with other affected persons, revealed that apprehensions on the part of the people and protracted official procedures have fuelled the controversy, which is primarily borne out of the absence of proper mechanism to calculate the "market rate" for payment of compensation..

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