In a bid to resolve the Singur deadlock, the West Bengal government last Sunday announced a new compensation package for farmers who were unwilling to give their land for the Tata project.
The new deal offers, among other things, an extra 50 per cent of the price of land. But there seem to be few takers for the package so far.
Out of 2251 unwilling farmers, only 25 have reportedly come forward to accept the new deal.
“Our movement is for land. What the package is, who they are giving it to, we are not interested. Why have they ruined a four crop land? What are we going to eat? Industry will disappear after 10 years,” said a villager Ashtu Manna.
Among other benefits, the new deal offers an extra 50 per cent of the price of land offered back in 2006 and an incentive of 10 per cent more if farmers sign up before September 22.
Yet, the land acquisition office in district headquarters Chinsura, where the cheques are awaiting disbursement, is empty and the special land acquisition officer tightlipped. For, out of 2251 unwilling farmers, barely 25 or so have applied for the package and 11 have taken the cheques.
The Trinamool and CPM are accusing each other of intimidating farmers.
However, there is one man who is ready to give his land. But he didn’t have any papers for it.
“If I get papers for my land, I will sell it. It is very little land and of no use to me,” said a villager Bidyut Das.