India, July 23 -- Chandigarh

Amid opposition from farmer bodies and rival political parties to its move to acquire large chunks of land in the state, the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved amendments to its land pooling policy, offering better terms to landowners in lieu of pooled land.

Announcing the amendments after a meeting of the state cabinet here, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said farmers who opt for land pooling will now receive an annual livelihood allowance of Rs.1 lakh until their land is developed - a fivefold increase from Rs.20,000 given by previous governments, and those offering one kanal of land will get an alternative of 125 square yards of residential land and 25 square yards of commercial land per kanal of land in re...