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Cabinet Clears Key Amendments on Abadi Deh Rights and Industrial Policy 

Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Saturday approved a series of significant policy decisions aimed at expediting property rights under the Mera Ghar Mere Naam scheme, easing industrial incentives, and strengthening urban development. The Cabinet also decided to convene a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on December 30, 2025, to discuss the Union government’s proposed changes to MGNREGA.

Faster Resolution under ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Act, 2021, to substantially reduce timelines for filing and disposing of objections and appeals.

• Section 11 will be amended to replace fixed timelines with “within time notified by the government,” enabling a reduction of objection filing and disposal periods from 90 and 60 days to 30 days each.

• Section 12(4) will be amended to cut the appeal disposal period from 60 days to 30 days.
  The move is aimed at faster dispute resolution and quicker conferment of property rights to beneficiaries.

Significant Relief for Industry under IBDP 2022
In a landmark decision to boost industrial growth and ease liquidity constraints, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Industrial & Business Development Policy (IBDP) 2022, removing the requirement for Bank Guarantees (BGs) to avail fiscal incentives.

• For Stamp Duty Exemption, BGs will be replaced with a First Charge on the concerned property until the commencement of commercial production.

• For the CLU/EDC Exemption, a robust alternative mechanism has been introduced in place of BGs.
  The amendment, effective retrospectively from October 17, 2022, follows sustained industry feedback that BGs were blocking working capital and hampering expansion, R&D, and job creation.

Reallocation of Bathinda Thermal Plant Land
The Cabinet approved the redistribution of 253 acres of land of the erstwhile Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, transferred to the Housing and Urban Development Department:

• 10 acres to PSPCL for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),

• 10 acres for a new bus stand, to be retained by BDA and transferred to the Transport Department at DC-fixed rates,

• 20 acres to be retained for residential and commercial development.

Boost to Urban Investments
Amendments to Rules 3 and 16(1) of the Punjab Management and Transfer of Municipal Properties Rules, 2021, were approved to revise payment schedules for high-value “Chunk Sites.” The move is expected to widen the bidder base, enhance competition, and attract larger investments in urban development.

Special Vidhan Sabha Session on MGNREGA
The Cabinet cleared the proposal to convene a special Assembly session on December 30, 2025, to discuss the Centre’s proposed changes to MGNREGA. The Cabinet opined that the amendments go beyond mere renaming and undermine the scheme’s core spirit, warranting a focused legislative debate. Collectively, the decisions signal the state government’s push for faster service delivery, industry-friendly reforms, and a firm political stance on safeguards for rural employment.