The Punjab Government has notified a significantly enhanced land pooling policy for the Greater Mohali area, offering bigger developed plots, a free conveyance deed, a doubled Sahuliyat Certificate validity of four years and oustee quota residential plots at scheme price to all landowners irrespective of whether they opted for cash or plots.The Tribune had first reported on April 13 that the Punjab Government had taken an in-principle decision to revise its land pooling policy with precisely these enhancements.The notification issued on July 6, a copy of which is with The Tribune, amended the Land Pooling Policy-2020 notified on January 5, 2021, and subsequently amended on November 21, 2025. It simultaneously amended the Oustee Policy-2013 to extend oustee plot benefits to all farmers, including those who opted for cash compensation.The enhanced policy, applicable across the entire Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) jurisdiction with immediate effect, revised plot entitlements upward across all land use categories. Under the residential category, GMADA will now return 1,000 square yards of residential plots per acre, unchanged, but the commercial SCO component has been increased from 200 square yards to 210 square yards per acre.Alternatively, landowners opting for only residential plots will receive 1,630 square yards per acre, up from the earlier 1,600 square yards.The commercial land category entitlement has been raised from 800 square yards to 840 square yards per acre, a significant upward revision for farmers whose land falls in commercial or mixed use zones.The increases are applicable to acquired landholdings of one acre and above, in integer multiples of one acre, in the form of Special Letter of Intent (LOI). For landowners with fractional holdings, where the landholding is not in exact integer multiples of the prescribed standard, Special LOIs will be issued with entitlement calculated proportionately. Special LOIs will be tradable. Once a person accumulates Special LOIs equivalent to a particular plot size, he or she becomes entitled to a full LOI for a plot of that size.Special LOIs will also apply to Eco City-3 and the low/high density township, extending the benefit to farmers in two of the three projects for which compensation awards have already been declared. Landowners can also opt for cash compensation three years after launch at the original scheme rate by surrendering remaining Special LOIs.The validity of the Sahuliyat Certificate, the facilitation document that gives farmers financial benefits in lieu of acquired land, has been extended from two years to four years, reckoned from the date of payment of the award amount or the date of allotment of a plot under the land pooling policy, whichever applicable.The certificate now offers two stamp duty options. Under option 1, no stamp duty or other charges will be levied on the original landowner, not LOI transferees, at the time of registration of conveyance deed of developed plots allotted under the land pooling scheme. Under option 2, the landowner can avail stamp duty exemption on purchase of land anywhere in Punjab, calculated on the basis of the collector rate of the land acquired by the authority.The priority tubewell connection window has also been extended to four years, co-terminus with the revised Sahuliyat Certificate validity. The PSPCL has been directed to ensure installation of the tubewell connection immediately and on priority upon submission of the application along with the Sahuliyat Certificate.All plots, including preferential location plots that were previously being retained by GMADA, will be included in the draw of lots to ensure equitable opportunity for all farmers. This provision will also apply to Aerotropolis Pockets A, B, C and D, Eco City-3 and the low/high density townships.The simultaneously amended Oustee Policy-2013 extends oustee residential plot entitlements to all farmers irrespective of whether they opted for land pooling or cash compensation and irrespective of the purpose of land acquisition. Under the revised oustee policy, a landowner with one acre under acquisition is entitled to a 200 sq yd residential plot at scheme price on a preferential basis; those with above one and up to 2.5 acres are entitled to 300 sq yd; and those with above 2.5 acres are entitled to 500 sq yd, subject to conditions fixed by the authority.The notification marks the third formal revision of Punjab’s land pooling framework within 12 months, each iteration forced by a combination of farmer resistance, political pressure and ground-level implementation failures, and each making the policy more generous than its predecessor.