Encroached land in Mohali is worth more than Punjab debt: Sidhu

Government land under illegal occupation in Mohali district alone is worth more than Punjab’s entire debt, which is pegged at Rs 2.10 lakh crore, said Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday.

He said if such pieces of land are identified across the whole state, it could rejuvenate its economy.

A cabinet sub-committee, formed for the maintenance of government assets and land, met in Chandigarh today.

The panel headed by Sidhu has sought details of government-owned land from boards, departments, corporations and all other state institutions, a press release said.

The minister said the panel has learned that records of these departments do not match with that of the revenue department.

He instructed that this has to be rectified, the release said.

A committee of experts headed by former judge S S Saron and former director general of police Chander Shekhar is being formed to give advice to the panel on freeing government land.

Chander Shekhar said at the meeting that five to six lakh acres of government land is under illegal occupation throughout Punjab.

Ministers for rural development and revenue also attended the meeting.