NGT grants interim stay on Punjab’s farmhouses policy
Petitioner Kapil Arora had challenged the farmhouses policy, alleging that it violated the Supreme Court’s directions regarding land taken out of the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act.
4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Dec 18, 2025 07:42 PM IST
With the Punjab government saying that it would not do anything further on the farmhouses policy till the next date of hearing, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Thursday granted an interim stay on the implementation of Punjab’s policy to allow farmhouses on delisted land in the Shivalik hills. (Source: File Photo)
With the Punjab government saying that it would not do anything further on the farmhouses policy till the next date of hearing, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Thursday granted an interim stay on the implementation of Punjab’s policy to allow farmhouses on delisted land in the Shivalik hills.
Petitioner Kapil Arora had challenged the farmhouses policy, alleging that it violated the Supreme Court’s directions regarding land taken out of the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). The other petitioners in this case were Gagnish Khurana and Mohit Jain.
Arora told The Indian Express, “An Interim stay has been granted till February 4. The government agreed that they have not done anything after the notification of the policy. They said they will not do anything further till February 4.”
Challenging the policy in NGT, he had stated that this was against the directions of the Supreme Court. The guidelines of the apex court had stated that the delisted land could only be used for agricultural purposes, and no permanent structure is allowed. “They had allowed permanent structures in 15 per cent of the land. They did not get any permission from the Centre nor got environment assessment done,” he said.
The petitioner added that the government had not demarcated the land on which construction was to be allowed. He had stated that the policy favoured several VIPs and land sharks, who had already constructed the structures in violation of SC directions.
The Punjab government had allowed construction on over 10 per cent of the area on one-acre farmhouses between Mohali and Pathankot on the delisted forest land under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). The Cabinet that met in Chandigarh on Saturday gave its nod to the farmhouses policy.
Finance Minister Harpal Cheema had stated that they would allow farmhouses on this land, which did not fall under the eco-sensitive zone. He said that this land was delisted by the Centre in 2011, and the government had formulated a policy, strictly adhering to the norms and directions of the Supreme Court. “We will follow the norms strictly so that the policy is not in violation of any rules. This land was delisted over a decade ago and we are now allowing farmhouses on it,” he added.
‘Low-impact residential units’
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He said that on every acre (which is 4,000 square yards in kandi area), two-storeyed houses of 400 square yards would be allowed.
The government had stated that the policy was framed with an objective to establish a standardised and transparent framework for the regularisation of existing structures and for permitting new low-impact residential units on these de-listed lands. It mandated a minimum plot size of 4,000 square yards and included stringent controls such as a low Floor Area Ratio (FAR), limited site coverage, and restrictions to G+1 structures. A core principle of the policy was a complete prohibition on any commercial activity, and to ensure environmental protection, the policy incorporated safeguards, such as mandatory plantation of indigenous species, use of sustainable building materials, and provisions for rainwater harvesting and solar energy.
The Indian Express had learnt that the kandi area had about 60,000 acres of land that could be used for the construction of farmhouses. There are already several farmhouses that were constructed much before the government brought the policy. The government would be charging a compounding fee that could go as high as four times the collector’s rate.
The government will also be charging a fee on the construction of the farmhouses at Rs 300 per square yard in Pathankot and as high as Rs 1200 per square yard in Mohali. The policy was a part of one of the many ideas of AAP leader Satyendar Jain, after he started overseeing the housing department of the state. Land-pooling policy was also one of his ideas, but the policy faced resistance and had to be withdrawn.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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