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Journalism of Courage
The land acquisition process for expanding Mohali’s Aerotropolis project has gathered pace, with the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) completing the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and submitting its report within just ten days a process that normally takes several months.
Following the notification under Section 4 of the old Land Acquisition Act for acquiring 3,513 acres across eight villages, the SIA was conducted by the Department of Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), under the supervision of Prof Sanjeev Kumar. Between November 10 and 12, the team visited all affected villages of Patto, Kuradi, Siaun, Bary, Matran, Kishanpura, Chhatt and Bakarpur to record feedback from farmers, panchayats and residents.
Villagers file written and verbal objections
Villagers have raised objections during the assessment, warning that any attempt to proceed without addressing their concerns will be opposed. “We will not agree to land acquisition unless our objections are resolved,” several farmers said during the consultations.
Expert committee meeting scheduled for November 27
The Housing & Urban Development Department has convened a meeting of the state-appointed expert committee at 3:30 pm on November 27 at PUDA Bhawan, Sector 62, Mohali. The committee headed by former IAS officer K S Sidhu and member-secretary Tarlochan Singh includes Prof Ramanjit Kaur Johal, Dr Vandana Arora (Panjab University), and Sudesh Kaul from Faridabad, Haryana. Sarpanches and lambardars of all eight affected villages, along with the PAU assessment team, have been invited to the meeting.
Aerotropolis expansion: Six new pockets to be developed
GMADA has already developed pockets A, B, C and D under the Aerotropolis project. The new acquisition aims to carve out Pockets E, F, G, H, I and J, requiring land from the eight villages.
Under the 2021 Land Pooling Policy, landowners may opt for developed plots instead of cash compensation, 1,000 sq yards residential, 200 sq yards commercial per acre of land pooled, a scheme widely discussed among the affected families.
Rs 509-crore infrastructure push already in progress
GMADA has floated tenders worth over Rs 509 crore for major road and infrastructure works in the existing Aerotropolis pockets, signalling the administration’s commitment to fast-tracking the project.
Farmers express livelihood and displacement concerns
Farmers say acquisition threatens their primary source of income and raises uncertainties around resettlement, valuation of developed plots and long-term livelihood security. Several have demanded clear assurances before giving consent.
Next steps
The expert panel will review the SIA findings and objections on November 27, after which it will submit recommendations to the government. The final decision on acquiring land for Pockets E to J will be taken thereafter.
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