The West Bengal Government has decided to formulate a standard rehabilitation package for people who will have to part with their agricultural land for industrial purposes. Nine regions spread across the State — such as Singur, Kharagpur, Sankrail and Dankuni — have been identified in this regard, according to the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Speaking to newspersons after a Cabinet meeting at the Writers' Buildings here today, Mr Bhattacharjee said the standard rehabilitation package would apply to people who are evicted from their agricultural land. It may be mentioned that acquisition of agricultural land for industrial purposes has become a contentious issue in the State with political overtones. Recently, representatives of the Tata group were made to feel unwelcome in Singur, where they had been to identify land where the proposed small car project of Tata Motors, is likely to be set up. Mr Bhattacharjee said the State Government has also decided to constitute a Farmers' Commission that would take a view on land, agriculture, horticulture, cropping patterns, harvesting and marketing of agricultural produce in the State. The Chief Minister and the Food Minister would set up the terms of reference of the proposed commission even as eminent agricultural scientist Dr M.S. Swaminathan would be its Advisor. An Expert Committee on Administration Reforms would also be constituted to look into steps that may be taken to plug loopholes in effective administration.
