Returning Singur land in ‘original form’ may prove tough for govt

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exults in the Supreme Court’s ruling that directed the government to return agricultural land in Singur for the Tata car plant that eventually shifted to Sanand in Gujarat, and plans festivities of celebration, where tonnes of fly ash used as landfill and kilometres of roads will make cultivation difficult.

While TMC leaders rejoice in their Singur victory that undoubtedly pushed its national agenda, bureaucrats and officials are now nervous about the land return process. According to the court order, Bengal government has to return 997.11 acres of land to 13,491 land owners in its ‘original ‘form in 12 weeks (3 months). “We will survey the land in Singur within two weeks.

Those who did not take the money for compensation will be given their dues, as per court verdict. After land survey and compensation, physical possession of land will be given within the time stipulated by court. There is no question of discrimination because all land records are with us,” said the chief minister after holding a strategy meeting on the land distribution.

The state government will issue a notification for initiating the land-return process, she added. “Farmers will get back their respective land. Land survey will be completed in two weeks. We have also decided to give possession to Bargadars (share-cropper) as per land records before acquisition.

We will make the land in Singur suitable for agricultural purposes,” said Banerjee. Sources in West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), however, said of 997 acres, 800 have lost its agriculture character. The level of 800 acres of agriculture land in Singur was raised 6 to 8 feet with fly-ash for industrial construction.