M A I N   N E W S

In Ludhiana, they’re equal partners in real estate
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

The farmer will have the option of either taking the price of the land offered by the government or taking a share in the constructed area

Ludhiana, October 22
In a major development that can pave way for a farmer-government partnership in developing newly planned mega urban estates all over the state, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has decided to give 50 per cent partnership share in the developed area for new urban estates to those giving land for the project.

The scheme extends to Phillaur in Jalandhar district and will also cover Jagraon, Khanna, Raikot and Samrala areas in Ludhiana district.

The scheme has also laid a special emphasis on the development of housing projects within a radius of 10 km of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation limits.

The farmer will have the option of either taking the price of the land offered by the government or taking a share in the constructed area.

Going by the real estate prices, the farmers are likely to accept the 50 per cent share in the constructed area.

GLADA will be the development authority for the planning and development of the entire area following handing over of their land by the farmers. After the project is fully developed, farmers will be given their share of the constructed area.

Confirming the development, A.K. Sinha, chief administrator of GLADA, said farmers showing interest in the scheme were supposed to contact the GLADA authorities at the earliest with papers of their land. The project in the 10-km radius of the city corporation limits needs to be spread over at least 100 acres, while the housing area in the other areas, specified in the scheme, can be at least 75 acres.

Sinha said, “Under the newly worked out scheme, one of the motives is to give a reasonable price to farmers for their land which they tended to lose out to a number of smart construction companies and also the government agency will ensure a proper layout plan, including roads and sewers, which is sadly lacking in a number of haphazard projects that have come up all over the state”.

S.R. Kaler, assistant chief administrator, said farmers could avail of the 50 per cent share only in the saleable area, including residential and commercial. He said one of the important features of the scheme was extension of planned urban development to towns, near Ludhiana, which was already bursting at its seams. This would not only help reduce the urban pressure on Ludhiana, but also give similar facilities to nearby places.