Chandigarh Farmers Offered ₹1 Lakh Yearly Under New Land Pooling Scheme
A new land pooling scheme introduced in the city aims to transform the region’s approach to land acquisition while offering farmers a significant annual compensation of ₹1 lakh. The scheme, part of broader urban development efforts, intends to fast-track infrastructure projects without displacing landowners or resorting to forced acquisition. Farmers, who traditionally held fragmented land parcels, are now being encouraged to become equity partners in the city’s growth by pooling land and receiving developed plots in return, alongside guaranteed annual payments for five years.
The Chandigarh administration, facing mounting resistance to traditional land acquisition methods, has shifted its strategy towards a more participatory approach. This land pooling model promises mutual benefits: the government gets the land required for infrastructure and civic projects, while landowners gain long-term financial security and a stake in future urban expansion. Officials argue this will reduce litigation, delays, and displacement, ensuring smoother implementation of public projects. The initiative also includes a structured layout plan with roads, drainage, and green zones, encouraging orderly development that aligns with the city’s eco-friendly master plan. Farmers in the region, many of whom have inherited agricultural land over generations, have expressed cautious optimism about the scheme.
While some remain sceptical of how the plots will be redistributed, others welcome the transparency and assured income it offers—particularly as shrinking profit margins in agriculture have made farming increasingly unsustainable. Local experts suggest that converting marginalised or underutilised agricultural land into serviced urban plots could empower rural communities economically, without forcing them to abandon their ancestral properties altogether. Officials claim that landowners will receive 40% of the developed land in lieu of their original plots, strategically located and fully connected to urban infrastructure. The initiative also incorporates environmental buffers like rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, and tree-lined pedestrian paths, creating a model for sustainable and climate-resilient urban expansion.
Civic engineers emphasise that this approach could prevent unplanned urban sprawl and improve quality of life by ensuring access to clean water, transport, and sanitation from the outset. The scheme has drawn national attention for its potential to balance urbanisation with rural welfare, though concerns remain about its execution and transparency. Officials say mechanisms are being established to ensure timely land returns, compensation payments, and public engagement throughout the process. If implemented equitably, the Chandigarh model could set a precedent for cities across India seeking to manage land scarcity, urban pressures, and farmer livelihoods simultaneously—without compromising sustainability or justice.
