Targeted reforms can transform land acquisition process

Land acquisition, a cornerstone of economic development, remains a contentious and inadequately addressed issue in Punjab.and acquisition, a cornerstone of economic development, remains a contentious and inadequately addressed issue in Punjab.

- Dr Deepratan Singh Anmol R Singh

and acquisition, a cornerstone of economic development, remains a contentious and inadequately addressed issue in Punjab. Despite its critical role in enabling infrastructure, housing, and industrial projects, the governance aspects and economic implications of land acquisition have often been overlooked. This neglect has resulted in significant policy gaps, exacerbating challenges and conflicts. Addressing these issues requires a nuanced understanding of institutional roles, market dynamics, and socio-economic impacts to ensure equitable and sustainable development.

The recent Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson serves as a timely reminder of the pivotal role institutions play in shaping the trajectory of development. Their insights into how inclusive or extractive frameworks impact societies are strikingly relevant to Punjab's ongoing struggles with land acquisition. As citizens, we often hear about infrastructure projects delayed or derailed by disputes, but the deeper institutional failures driving these issues rarely enter public discourse. (source: Acemoglu, Daron, and Simon Johnson. "Unbundling Institutions". Journal of Political Economy 113, no. 5 (October 2005): 949-995)

Current process benefits a select few

In Punjab, the land acquisition process often skews toward extractive practices, benefiting a select few at the expense of broader community welfare. Fragmented landholdings, political interference, and outdated land records exacerbate this imbalance, leaving landowners, particularly those in rural areas, vulnerable to exploitation. Instead of fostering shared prosperity, the process frequently becomes mired in inefficiencies, inequities, and conflicts.