Govt to take a lesson from Singur: Rezzak

Kolkata, Oct 9 (UNI) The West Bengal government would take a lesson from the Singur imbroglio, Land and Land Reforms Minister Abdul Razzaq Mollah said today.

''We are preparing a land bank to ensure that future endeavours for industrialisation are not hampered. The state will also look after the food security issue,'' Mr Mollah said.

''We have already disbursed 2,400 cheques till yesterday and cheques were given to the farmers all throughout the day,'' Mr Mollah told reporters at the Writers' Buildings here.

Mr Razzaq said the state government has so far acquired 997 acres of land in Singur. The government needs to give 1013 acres of land to the Tata for launching off their project.

The state has around 1.34 crore hectares of agricultural land and acquisition of 1,000 acres is nothing, he said.

Mr Razzaq said the project would also help in attracting industries in the state.

The Singur land acquiring has become the cynosore of all political parties with the opposition targetting the alleged disbusrsement of farmland to the industrial giants as an anti-agrarian policy of the government and the ruling Left Front showcasing it as the symbol of industrial resurgence, while assuring that the agro-belt will not be affected.

UNI TJP BA RL DB2050