We will follow SC order on Singur line-by-line: CM

“It was a landmark judgment. We will follow the order of the court line-by-line,” she said. “Instructions have been issued to start the land survey on Friday. Everyone will get back their land. Our intention is to honour the court verdict within the time limit,” Banerjee told reporters after an emergency meeting called to formulate the strategy for implementing the SC order.

The land survey will be done in two weeks’ time. A field survey will be done in four weeks’ time after  which physical possession of the land will be handed over to the farmers. she said. During the survey, at least one state minister would be present at the spot throughout.

Banerjee said those, who were forced to give land to the government but did not accept the compensation will now get both the money and the land, while those who accepted money and parted with their land will get the land back.

“All bargadars (share-croppers) will also be back in their respective positions. This was not in the court order but we will do it,” the Chief Minister said, adding that a notification in this regard will be issued during the day.

The government has also taken the onus to make the land, parts of which are now concrete for a Tata Motors factory which was supposed to come up on it, cultivable, she said. She also instructed the officials to locate another land in Burdwan district to set up a ‘langcha’ (a type of sweet) hub.

The land for it was acquired in 2007. “But, if the people do not want, it will not be set up there,” Banerjee said.  The Chief Minister will leave for an eight-day tour to Italy and Germany on Friday. She directed ministers who were present in Thursday’s meeting to contact her if any sort of problem cropped up in this connection. 

Senior ministers including Amit Mitra, Partha Chatterjee, Purnendu Basu, Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim and Sovan Chatterjee were present in the meeting. 

MLAs from the area Rabindranath Bhattacharya and Bacharam Manna attended Thursday’s meeting. Senior officials including Chief Secretary Basudeb Banerjee, Home Secretary Malay De and DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha were also present in the meeting.

“In case I am not available over phone while travelling in flight, then the ministers and home secretary will discuss among themselves to take a decision in case there is any problem,” she said.