‘Our Land, Our Livelihood’: Protests Erupt in Punjab Over New Land Pooling Policy
- Asia Newsdesk
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Punjab, India — “This land is our identity. We are not against development, but we will not be erased by it.”— Baljit Kaur, protesting farmer, Ludhiana district
Farmers across Punjab have launched a series of protests against the state’s newly introduced Land Pooling Policy, accusing the government of prioritizing private developers at the cost of smallholder livelihoods and long-standing land tenure rights.
The demonstrations — now entering their third week — have seen farmers block roads, organize sit-ins outside administrative offices, and hold torch marches in key rural districts such as Mohali, Ludhiana, and Patiala. Protestors say the policy lacks adequate transparency, ignores customary landholders, and risks fueling land dispossession in the name of urban expansion.
What Is the Land Pooling Policy?
The Punjab Land Pooling Policy (2024) aims to speed up urban development by encouraging landowners to voluntarily pool parcels of agricultural land for integrated infrastructure projects. Instead of outright acquisition, landowners are promised developed plots in return for contributing their land to the pool.
The government argues the policy is a progressive alternative to forced acquisition, enabling faster project execution and more inclusive urbanization.
“This is a win-win model that avoids conflict. Landowners become stakeholders in urban growth,” said Rajiv Kumar, a senior official from the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), at a recent press conference.
Farmers Raise Red Flags
Opponents argue the policy disproportionately benefits large landowners and corporate developers. Many say they were not consulted, and that the so-called “voluntary” aspect hides significant pressure tactics, particularly in peri-urban areas where land values are rising.
“The compensation system is vague. We’re being offered a portion of our land back — but with no guarantees on when, where, or how it will be developed,” said Surinder Singh, a farmer from the outskirts of Mohali.
Critics also highlight the absence of safeguards for sharecroppers, tenants, and women whose names may not appear on official land records, but who depend heavily on these lands for income and sustenance.
According to a statement by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), a major farmers’ union in Punjab: “This policy risks stripping the poorest of their land rights under the guise of development. Land pooling without equitable representation is land grabbing by stealth.”
Broader Context: Land Rights and Urban Growth
Punjab is not alone. Across India and beyond, governments are turning to land pooling as a means of accelerating infrastructure growth without triggering the backlash associated with eminent domain.
But as land becomes more valuable, especially on urban fringes, conflicts over land tenure, consent, and compensation are escalating. According to a 2024 report by the Centre for Policy Research, land pooling schemes across India have often favoured elite interests and led to gentrification and displacement unless robust governance frameworks are put in place.
“Land pooling can be inclusive — but only if the most vulnerable stakeholders are meaningfully involved from the outset,” notes Dr. Ananya Roy, urban development scholar at UCLA.
What’s Next?
In response to growing dissent, Punjab’s housing and urban development department has signaled openness to minor revisions in the policy, including clearer compensation timelines and more transparent dispute resolution mechanisms. However, farmer groups have vowed to continue protesting until the policy is paused and revised through participatory processes.
As the standoff continues, the Punjab case is fast becoming a test of whether land policy reform can be both efficient and just — or whether the path to urban growth will continue to bypass those most rooted in the land.
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