Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann issues ultimatum to encroachers: Vacate land by May 31 or face action

Bhagwant Mann: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken a tough stand on those occupying government land illegally. On Friday he sent out a warning to squatters to vacate government land by May 31 or face action.

The ultimatum comes a day after Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal directed officials to ensure the removal of encroachments from government panchayat land by June 10.

Previous govts allowed encroachments

Mann criticized previous governments in the state who allowed "affluent people" to encroach on government land by violating norms and termed it "unwarranted and undesirable".

He said the state government is committed to freeing land from squatters and an anti-encroachment drive will begin on June 1. However, if there are houses on such land where people are living, they will not be dislocated during the drive, he added.

Mann said from day one of assuming office, his government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards encroachments.

More than 9,000 acres if govt land freed

In an official statement, Mann said it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the state government has so far freed more than 9,000 acres of government land from encroachers.

He said the momentum will be maintained and "every inch" of government land under illegal occupation will be vacated by all means.

Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also said those who are residing on such land will not be dislocated. Several of such people have offered to pay for the land under their possession, he said and added that the state government had finalised a policy for such cases.

Giving details, he said such land will be assessed as per the collector rates or market rates. The deputy commissioners concerned are authorised to take a decision in this regard, the minister said.

The state government aims to reclaim 6,000 acres of land under illegal encroachment by June 10. Last year, 9,030 acres of land was freed from encroachment, the average market value of which was around ₹ 2,709 crore, he said.

In the last five days, 189 acres of land was vacated by encroachers on their own. Last year too, following an appeal by the chief minister, 3,396 acres of land was vacated by people themselves, he claimed. No legal action will be taken against those vacating government land by May 31, he said.

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