Mounting anger over the Punjab Government's controversial land pooling policy for urban estates has sparked a wave of protests from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — a conglomeration of farmers’ union — which has now escalated its resistance by announcing a series of major actions. The farmers’ body has called for an all-party meeting on July 18 in Chandigarh, followed by a statewide tractor and flag march on July 30, and culminating in a massive rally at Mullanpur on August 24.

At the heart of the agitation is the proposed acquisition of large swathes of fertile agricultural land for the development of urban and industrial zones under the state’s land pooling model. SKM leaders, during a meeting on Sunday, have rejected the policy outright, calling it an attempt to dispossess farmers under the garb of development.

Farmer leaders gathered at Sector-35 Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh, and emerged from the deliberations with a stern message: “We will not allow our ancestral land to be turned into empty concrete jungles.”

Speaking to the media after the meeting, SKM leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal lambasted the policy, saying, “This land pooling model is nothing but land grabbing in the name of urban expansion. First, they took 45,000 acres for residential estates that are still underdeveloped. Now they are eyeing another 65,000 acres for an industrial zone. We received this report just today. This is unacceptable.”

According to the SKM, the blueprint for the proposed industrial zone spans a staggering 65,000 acres, and comes at a time when several previous urban projects, including the much-touted IT City, lie underutilized and sparsely populated. The farmer body argued that the government has no justification to acquire new land when existing infrastructure remains idle.

The SKM has demanded an immediate rollback of the policy and declared that its campaign will intensify if the government refuses to engage in meaningful dialogue. “On July 30, we will march through the villages targeted for land acquisition with our tractors and flags. This will be a warning shot. On August 24, tens of thousands of farmers will gather at Mullanpur mandi to show our collective strength,” said another SKM leader.

Adding political heat to the issue, senior farmer leader Boota Singh Burjgill alleged that the policy is not even homegrown. “This is not Punjab’s policy. This is Arvind Kejriwal’s policy, being imposed on Punjab through his proxy government,” he said, pointing fingers at Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, who many believe exerts heavy influence over the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP Government in Punjab.

Burjgill further demanded that the Punjab Government withdraw all inter-state water agreements, arguing that Punjab’s resources are being unfairly diverted without adequate compensation. “Water sharing should be based on the Riparian Law, and for every extra drop that leaves Punjab, we should get a royalty. The Assembly should be convened to debate this critical issue,” he asserted.

The announcements come amid growing discontent among farmers and rural communities, many of whom see the land pooling scheme as a violation of their rights and a threat to Punjab’s agrarian identity. Farmer unions argued that fertile land, once acquired and concretized, can never be restored — jeopardizing food security and livelihoods.

While the Punjab Government maintains that land pooling ensures transparency, fair compensation, and participatory development, farmer groups view it as a slick repackaging of land acquisition, with long-term consequences for small and marginal farmers.

 SKM Plans Protest Against Land Pooling Policy

·         All-party meeting in Chd on July 18

·         Tractor and flag marches on July 30

·         Mega rally at Mullanpur Mandi on Aug 24

·         Farmers demand cancellation of industrial zone plan over 65k acres