Chandigarh, July 3: The Punjab Government has overhauled its property compensation guidelines, granting small farmers higher plot allotments and significant financial concessions during public land acquisitions. Approved by the Council of Ministers, the policy update introduces specific Letter of Intent provisions designed to protect smaller agricultural holdings from severe economic displacement. The new guidelines reorder how developed land is redistributed back to local communities following infrastructure drives.
The restructuring establishes an adjusted tier system under the state’s Oustee Policy to match compensation with the exact acreage surrendered. Farmers giving up an acre or less are guaranteed a baseline plot, with larger allocations provided to those losing up to two and a half acres. Landowners surrendering tracts beyond that size will qualify for larger, premium plots, allowing affected families to transition into modern commercial or residential sectors seamlessly.
Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema declared that the administration carefully balanced rural development with stakeholder concerns during the drafting process. “The Punjab Government held discussions with landowners and other stakeholders regarding the existing policy and approved the amendments after considering their suggestions and concerns,” the Minister maintained. He asserted that the revised metrics ensure that agricultural communities are treated as active partners in state growth.
The policy also removes substantial financial hurdles by waiving standard conveyance deed costs and registration fees at the time of plot transfer. Farmers wishing to reinvest their compensation into alternative agricultural land can use their exemptions across any district in Punjab based on the calculated collector rate. The administration has additionally paired these fiscal benefits with infrastructural perks, guaranteeing priority utility links to help displaced families rebuild their livelihoods quickly.
