On Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann issued an ultimatum to squatters, demanding that they vacate government land by 31 May or face consequences. This directive follows a previous instruction from Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who ordered officials to remove encroachments from government panchayat land by 10 June.
The government is taking action to address the issue of illegal occupation of public land and ensure its proper use and management. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated the state government’s commitment to reclaiming land from squatters, announcing that an anti-encroachment drive will commence on 1 June. However, he assured that individuals residing in houses built on such land would not be displaced during the drive. The government’s focus is on addressing encroachment issues while ensuring the well-being and rights of affected individuals.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann emphasized that his government has maintained a zero-tolerance approach towards encroachments since the beginning of their tenure. He expressed disappointment over previous governments allowing affluent individuals to encroach on government land by disregarding regulations, which he deemed unnecessary and undesirable. The current administration is committed to rectifying this issue and ensuring the proper utilization of government land. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed immense pride and satisfaction in the fact that the state government has successfully reclaimed over 9,000 acres of government land from encroachers. He emphasized the determination to sustain this momentum and ensure that every inch of government land occupied illegally is vacated using all available means. The commitment to freeing government land from encroachment remains unwavering.
