Punjab Assembly Sees Heated Debate Over Illegal Colonies Bill

The Punjab assembly witnessed intense exchanges between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa over the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill. The bill aims to regulate illegal colonies and provide relief to small plot holders. Mann emphasized his experience and criticized previous governments for regularizing illegal colonies.

The Punjab assembly on Tuesday saw heated exchanges between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, following a cabinet minister’s criticism of Bajwa over the issue of illegal colonies in the state.

Mann dismissed Bajwa's remarks, stating he was an experienced chief minister in the role for three years. The assembly later passed the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at halting the practice of seeking no objection certificates (NOC) for registering plots up to 500 square yards in illegal colonies.

Summarizing the discussion, Mann said the amendment intended to strictly control illegal colonies while giving small plot holders relief. Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal accused previous governments of defrauding people by permitting illegal colonies. Bajwa refuted these accusations, prompting further heated exchanges and interventions by the Speaker to restore order.