Notwithstanding the dispute and court case over the land acquired under the urban estate, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has finally decided to hold the fourth draw of lots for the allotment of remaining plots in Sector 76-80 here on Friday.

“Over 350 plots, measuring 100, 200 and 500 square yards, will be allotted to letter of intent (LOI) holders and around 250 eligible oustees during the much-awaited exercise,” GMADA Chief Administrator (CA) Vivek Partap Singh told Newsline.

The eight-year-old long wait to get physical possession of the allotted plots, however, will continue till the litigation pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court comes to an end.

Last month, the Punjab Council of Ministers had turned down the proposal for out-of-court settlement with the litigants while rejecting the implementation of land pooling scheme with retrospective effect.

Punjab Advocate General (AG) H S Mattewal had made a statement before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 16 that the matter to implement the land pooling scheme in the land acquisition case of Sectors 76-80 was discussed with the CM.

It was decided that in order to alleviate the problems being faced by landowners who, by and large, do not belong to the affluent section of society, the land be released to them, only as a one-time measure.

Only the petitioners who have not collected compensation for their land can avail of the benefit, it was added.

The said release or adjustment, the AG had stated, would be subject to their paying external development charges for the said land.

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