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Journalism of Courage
Close on the heels of passing a bill in the Assembly to return land to unwilling farmers in Singur,the West Bengal government on Friday decided to withdraw the notification issued by the previous Left Front government to acquire 1,587 acres at Rajarhat.
“The earlier government has issued the notification for acquiring 1,013 acres and notification for acquisition of an additional 574 acres was in process. Today,we have decided to withdraw the notification on the entire 1,587 acres. This land will not be acquired,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said after a meeting with Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation,nodal agency for development in Rajarhat.
A large number of farmers whose land had been notified for acquisition were being deprived of their livelihood,she said,adding,”These farmers will be saved. This is a big matter. I think,today they can smile.”
Maintaining that the government had distributed 101 plots at Rajarhat and adopted 38 resolutions in a hurry before the assembly elections,she said these would be cancelled.
Besides,the government has also decided to do away with the HIDCO chairman’s quota in plot distribution at Rajarhat,she said.
“The quota raj of the CPI-M will not continue.”
Earlier this month,the West Bengal Assembly passed the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill,2011 paving the way for the return of about 400 acre of land at the Tata Motors project site at Singur to unwilling land losers.
