Aman Arora slams SAD-BJP over Punjab land

Hitting out at the opposition parties for their "hypocritical" stance on the land pooling policy introduced by the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government, Punjab Cabinet Minister and AAP state president Mr. Aman Arora stated that the new Land Pooling Policy has been built upon the framework introduced by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP led government.

While addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan on Thursday, Mr. Aman Arora described the Land Pooling Policy, a game-changer for Punjab as it is prioritising transparency, fairness and public welfare. The policy would promote organised and planned development, besides benefiting all sections of society including landowners.

Exposing the hypocrisy and lies of the opposition parties, Mr. Aman Arora pointed out that SAD-BJP and Congress governments’ past actions contradict their current stance on the new land pooling policy. The SAD-BJP led government had issued notifications regarding master plans in several cities including SAS Nagar (Mohali), Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Hoshiarpur. These notifications declared hundreds of acres area for residential and commercial development and it allowed private developers to build colonies. The SAD-BJP and congress governments’ bonhomie with the defaulter builders led to the mushrooming of illegal colonies on around 20,000 acres in Punjab, causing hardship for buyers in the absence of basic civic amenities including sewage system, street lights and other amenities.

“Mohali area has seen significant development. From 2009 to 2021, the Congress and Akali Dal-BJP governments had acquired 3735 acres of land in Mohali. If Mohali deserves planned development and ultra-modern facilities, why not the rest of Punjab? Why not Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran or Ferozepur,” Mr. Aman Arora asked?

Highlighting the key features of the policy, Mr. Aman Arora said that the new land pooling policy is more farmer-friendly and public-centric compared to previous policies. Now, there is no restriction on sale and purchase of land, farmers can develop their land themselves or partner with the government or private developers, Rs 50,000 compensation for the first three years and Rs 1 lakh after possession and option to exchange residential and commercial plots is also available in the policy.

Mr. Aman Arora demanded that SAD-BJP and Congress should apologise to the people of Punjab for misleading them and promoting illegal colonies. The AAP-led government is committed to planned development, transparency, and public welfare.The opposition's allegations are baseless and motivated by self-interest.