The Rural Development and Panchayat Department of Punjab has made a record earning of Rs. 250 crore by auctioning of Panchayat land for cultivation during current crop season 2014-15 against the 240 crore in the last year.The Minister in charge Sikander Singh Maluka today said that this could be made possible by adopting most transparent methodology in the auction. He said that the videography has been done during the auction process to ensure total transparency under the senior officials of Department in each and every village.
It may be mentioned here that Punjab have 1, 71,450 acre Panchayat land, out of which 1, 34,450 acre have been auctioned with an increase of Rs. 10 crore. The Remaining 37,000 acre would be auctioned in next week, which would further enhance the earning of Department.Taking a serious note about the illegal possession on Panchayat lands in various villages, the Minister has ordered the Department officials to get the land vacated and also to take swift action against the erring officials. The Minister has asked the officers, who were holding Collector Powers to clear of the pending cases as early as possible.It was also instructed by the Minister that Department should ensure at least one tube well connection for 10 acre Panchayat land to further increase the Department income besides providing irrigation facilities to farmers.