WB govt contemplating compensation for affected Singur farmers

The high court ruled that the legislation introduced by the state to recover the land leased to Tata Motors in Singur was constitutionally invalid.

"As per a government scheme, destitute farmers are given Rs 1,000 as assistance per month," Agriculture Minister Rabindranath Bhattacharya said.

"We are contemplating if nearly 3,000 farmers of Singur, who did not receive compensation cheques and who are likely to be affected by the order, can be brought under the scheme," Bhattacharya, who has been elected from Singur assembly constituency, said.

Bhattacharya said it was estimated that such farmers owned 256 acres while there were also sharecroppers and bargadars.

"There are also farmers whose cheques were taken by others. We are considering incorporating them under the scheme", he added.

He said the state government would challenge the high court order in the Supreme Court, the minister said "I hope that the farmers will not be frustrated as they have not been in the last six years."

Alleging the opposition parties were trying to spread confusion over the issue in Singur, Bhattacharya said "we will go there and convince the farmers."

He said a meeting was held with the farmers yesterday to discuss what was to be done in case of a win or loss in the high court.