The Punjab government is set to issue a joint circular to assist applicants who are currently caught between various departments regarding cases involving lands delisted under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900.
This circular aims to clarify the status of each delisted *khasra* (land parcel), designate a single regulatory authority, and establish a unified *khasra* status certificate that is accepted by all departments.
In this regard, KBS Sidhu, former Special Chief Secretary and former Financial Commissioner (Revenue), has written to the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the relevant administrative secretaries, offering several suggestions.
The letter welcomes the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Punjab Forest Department on September 14, noting that it provides a clear checklist of mandatory documents required for forest clearance cases.
The SOP outlines 13 requirements for cases involving both ‘closed’ and ‘open’ PLPA areas. It also incorporates the need for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Punjab Pollution Control Board and a report from the Divisional Forest Officer regarding nearby *chos* (seasonal rivulets), drains, and streams. Coordination Between Departments Remains a Major Issue.
However, coordination issues persist among departments regarding building plans, Change of Land Use (CLU) certificates, and Master Plan compliance certificates. The letter points out that while GMADA and urban local bodies play a role in matters concerning these documents for areas outside municipal limits, the concerned departments often wait for the Forest Department to clarify its stance first. Consequently, applicants are forced to run from one department to another. Sidhu has also attached a draft of the proposed joint circular to the DO (Demi-Official) letter sent to the Chief Secretary on September 16.
Delisted *Khasras* to be Categorized into Four Groups
The proposal suggests classifying each delisted *khasra* into one of four categories and designating a specific regulatory authority for each category. It also recommends the issuance of a unified *khasra* status certificate that would be recognized by all departments. A demand has also been raised to set a timeline for decision-making and to clarify that the ban on commercial use will remain in force.
**Demand for relief for families in Nayagaon**
The letter specifically mentions the inhabited areas of Kansal, Karoran, and Nada, which fall under the Nayagaon Municipal Council. Families residing on three- and four-marla plots here have been waiting for a long time for building plan approvals and sewer connections.
It has been suggested that the demarcation process should begin with the inhabited urban areas of Karoran and Nada. A proposal has also been made to explore a mechanism for providing water and sewer connections to existing houses upon payment of a fee—subject to court permission—ensuring that this is not construed as the regularization of the land itself.
Furthermore, a suggestion has been made to finalize the Sukhna Eco-Sensitive Zone in Punjab. The letter also calls for seeking clarification from the Union Ministry of Environment and filing an application in the High Court through the Advocate General to ensure there is no deviation from the conditions of the Centre’s 2009 de-listing approval or the court’s orders.
