Opposition to Punjab’s land-pooling policy brings together farmers | India News
BATHINDA: Resistance to AAP-led Punjab government’s land-pooling policy is acting as the glue to bring together fractured farm organisations and individual farmers beyond political affiliation, reports Neel Kamal.It appears to be rekindling farm struggles that seemed to be losing momentum – seeing that there was not much hue and cry after Punjab Police slammed shut the protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana.The Bhagwant Mann government has been trying to convince people that land-pooling scheme was beneficial to farmers but it hasn’t been able to dispel farmers’ apprehension of losing land. Individual farmers from villages where land is being ‘pooled’ – those so far not associated with farm organisations – are now turning towards them to oppose the scheme.The policy aims to pool over 40,000 acres of farmland to promote planned urban development. It’s a land-for-land scheme, where landowners voluntarily give up land and are given developed residential and commercial plots in exchange.SKM’s green light to its Punjab chapter to hold tractor rallies on July 30 in villages that are likely to be brought under land-pooling scheme has come as a boost to forces opposing the scheme. The national committee of KMM has also backed the SKM call, further emboldening resistance.
