Amid pressure, Punjab hikes land pooling payout to farmers

BUCKLING under pressure from farmers protesting against its controversial land pooling policy and under attack from the opposition, the Punjab Cabinet amended it on Tuesday, increasing the annual compensation to farmers for acquiring their land from ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 an acre.

- HARPREET BAJWA @Chandigarh

The Cabinet also offered them commercial plots in lieu of pooled land measuring as little as one kanal. Additionally, farmers can take loans against the Letter of Intent, and the registration of sale deeds for such land has not been halted.

The government has plans to acquire 65,533 acres of land across 21 cities and towns in the state to develop both industrial and residential zones.