Cal HC asks gov to file affidavit on acquisition of land in Singur

Kolkata, Feb 9 (UNI) The Calcutta High Court today directed the state government to file an affidavit within two weeks on the acquisition of agricultural land in Singur where Tata Motors started work for its small car project a few weeks ago.

A two- judge bench, headed by acting Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattachayya, passed the direction on a writ petition filed by a resident of the city Joydeep Mukherjee.

The Court asked the petitioner to explain about his social activities and why he took up the cause of the farmers in Singur.

The petitioner argued before the court that the government had forcibly acquired the required agricultural land for the small car project. Mr Mukherjee also said many farmers were yet to hand over their land to the government.

The court wanted to know from the government how many acres of land it had so far acquired for the project and how many farmers had willingly agreed to the government's proposal for selling their land.

The case will come up for hearing after two weeks.

Tata Motors started its work in Singur, 40 km west of Kolkata, on a land of about 1000 acre for producing small cars which government officials said would bring a change in the economy of the state.

UNI