The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has taken a significant decision regarding prime land in Bathinda. In a cabinet meeting held on Saturday, December 21, 2025, the state administration approved the redistribution of a substantial 253-acre plot belonging to the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant.
Breaking Down the Land Allocation Plan
The land, now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be utilized for multiple public purposes. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema outlined the detailed blueprint for the allocation. A 10-acre segment will be transferred to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for setting up a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a move aimed at modernizing the state's power infrastructure.
Another 10 acres will be retained by the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) for the construction of a new bus stand. This land will subsequently be handed over to the Transport Department, which will compensate the BDA at a rate determined by the Bathinda Deputy Commissioner. Furthermore, a 20-acre portion will be kept by the Housing Department for residential and commercial development.
Wider Development and Policy Reforms
Sources indicate that this is part of a larger development plan for the thermal plant land. The BDA is already spearheading the creation of two major residential colonies on the site. One colony is being developed on 91 acres, while another spans 109 acres.
The cabinet session also resulted in several key policy amendments designed to streamline governance and boost economic activity. To accelerate the 'Mera Ghar Mere Naam' scheme, the cabinet approved changes to the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Act, 2021. The amendments will reduce the time for filing and disposing of objections from 90 and 60 days respectively to just 30 days each. Similarly, the period for appeal disposal has been slashed from 60 to 30 days.
In a major relief for industry, the cabinet amended the Industrial and Business Development Policy (IBDP) 2022. The requirement for a bank guarantee to avail fiscal incentives has been removed. This decision, prompted by representations from industry bodies, aims to free up working capital for expansion, R&D, and job creation, with the change being applied retrospectively from the policy's effective date of October 17, 2022.
Facilitating Urban Development and Investment
Another crucial decision involved urban land management. The cabinet amended the Punjab Management and Transfer of Municipal Properties Rules, 2021. The definition of "Chunk Sites"—high-value municipal properties—has been revised. Now, any urban land parcel valued over Rs 20 crore will qualify, regardless of its physical size. This allows municipal bodies to sell such properties with an installment payment plan, a facility previously available only with the Urban Development Department.
Finance Minister Cheema emphasized that this step will encourage competitive bidding, attract significant investment, and boost overall urban development in Punjab's cities.
It is important to note that the cabinet's decision to redistribute the thermal plant land was taken despite ongoing protests by engineers from the state power utility, who have opposed the transfer of the plant's land.
