Farmers in Singur will get back their land within the time-frame set by the apex court, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday.

Land will be returned in “cultivable form” and the due compensation paid, she further added.

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, quashed the acquisition of 997 acres of land in Singur by the erstwhile Left Front government in 2006, which was acquired for the proposed Tata Nano project.

“Land will be returned to farmers within the stipulated time and in original cultivable form. Compensation will also be awarded to all those who have refused it so far,” Banerjee told reporters, after an emergency meeting at the State secretariat. The Chief Minister reiterated that land – in whatever condition it was at present – will be returned in cultivable form.

Land survey

According to Banerjee, instructions have also been given to start a land survey, Friday onwards. The survey will be done in two weeks’ time. This will be followed by a field survey in a four week time period; after which land will be handed over to the farmers. During the survey, at least one State minister will be present at the spot, at any given point of time.

“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 by the end of day.

As per government sources, there are 14,500-odd land losers, of which 12,000-odd have been compensated.

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