A storm is brewing in the villages of Ludhiana as farmers prepare for a large-scale protest against the Punjab Governments ambitious land pooling policy. Scheduled for July 7 in Jagraon, the dharna is being organized by villagers of Malak, Pona, and Aligarh, who accuse the government of attempting to dispossess them of their fertile agricultural land in the name of urban development.   The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led State Government has announced plans to pool over 40,000 acres of land across Punjab, with 24,000 acres targeted in Ludhiana district alone. As part of this, approximately 526 acres from the three villages of Malak, Pona, and Aligarh have been identified. However, residents are pushing back strongly, alleging that the policy is nothing more than a thinly-veiled land grab.   In a meeting held on Wednesday in Malak village, farmers from the three villages came together to finalize their strategy for the protest. United in opposition, they have formed a committee and issued a stern message — no land will be given, regardless of government assurances or pressure.   While the government continues to brand the land pooling scheme as a voluntary and farmer-friendly model, villagers argued that previous experiences have shattered their faith in such promises. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and senior Cabinet Ministers have repeatedly described the initiative as a win-win for both landowners and the state — offering developed plots, better compensation, and reduced litigation. But the ground reality, farmers insist, tells a different story.   Haunted by Broken Promises   The failure of past urban development projects looms large over the debate. At the forefront is the Jagraon sugar mill project, where 113 acres of cooperative land were converted into a residential colony under PUDA in 2009. Though plots were auctioned, the site remains largely deserted more than a decade later. Only a handful of houses have been built; many plots remain unsold, and buyers are unable to resell them due to poor infrastructure and negligible demand.   The list doesnt stop there. From the 100-acre abandoned private colony in Bhanohar village to unfinished housing projects in South City, and the defunct City Centre in Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhianas landscape is dotted with half-hearted urbanization efforts that failed to deliver.   The July 7 protest is expected to draw significant participation not only from Malak, Pona, and Aligarh, but also neighbouring villages. Farmer leaders are warning that resistance will intensify if the government refuses to withdraw or revise the policy.   According to the residents, anyone supporting the scheme or the ruling AAP has been asked to stay away from village meetings. The mood on the ground is defiant, and the farmers see the protest as a fight for survival rather than a political disagreement.   Villagers argued that the government should first complete pending projects and unlock land already acquired, rather than targeting fresh swathes of prime agricultural land. The governments recent newspaper advertisements calling for the voluntary pooling of 7,800 acres in Phase I have only added fuel to the fire.  

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