Return land in Singur to farmers: Medha Patkar to Mamata Banerjee

Social activist Medha Patkar has appealed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to return the land at Singur to farmers using the new Land Acquisition Act.

"The Act says if the land owner has not received compensation in the last five years or if the possession of land is not taken over by the buyer, then the owner can get the land back. This clause can also be applied in Singur by Mamata Banerjee," Patkar told reporters here.

Appealing the Chief Minister to resort to the Act, she said her party Trinamool Congress had taken the lead in getting the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act-2013, passed in the Parliament and now they must use it to ensure justice to farmers.

"There are around 400 farmers in Singur who have not got any compensation. Now they can get back their land. Mamata came to power after fighting in Singur for land rights," the activist said, adding she has herself been using the Act in the Narmada valley.

Patkar regretted that the Act was not being fully implemented in the country and alleged the new Modi government was trying to change some provisions of the Act which came into force from January 1 this year.
"We will oppose it very strongly. There are some gaps in the Act and the government must try and fill them," said the National Convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).