By Rajib Chatterjee
SINGUR, Sept. 7: With land prices skyrocketing here, a large number of registered sharecroppers (bargadars) of Singur have surrendered their "bargadari rights" in order to earn more apart from compensation. This practice began following acquisition of land for the Tata Motors small car factory. Bargadars, who are relinquishing bargadari rights feel the environment at Singur will no longer remain conducive for farming once the Nano factory comes up, a senior district land and land reforms official said. With urbanisation on the anvil, land owners ~ who don't want to cultivate their acreage ~ are trying to convince bargadars to surrender their rights so plots can be sold to land brokers. Officials also came to know that several pattadars (farmers who get land from the state for dwelling or farming) have started selling their property to local business people though doing so is strictly prohibited by law. Recently two instances of land being illegally sold by pattadars were reported following which officials have asked pattadars not to indulge in such illegal practices. People have been asked to find out the status of the land they have decided to purchase. “Bargadars can voluntarily surrender their rights because there is provision of doing so in the West Bengal Land Reforms Act. Under section 20 (B) of the Act, every bargadar is bound to get compensation from a land owner against surrender of bargadari rights. With the price of land rising rapidly at Singur, bargadars are surrendering their rights in order to earn more apart from compensation. They are doing so at the instruction of land brokers who are eyeing the plots surrounding the project area,” an official of Singur block land and land reforms said. There are reports of bargadars being pressurised by land owners and brokers to surrender their bargadari rights, he added. According to reports, a pattadar had sold his plot, located just opposite to the project area, to a businessman, Mr Rajesh Jain, to earn money. “Since pattadars don't have the right to sell their agricultural plots, authorities can take legal action against them. Considering their economic condition we didn't initiate steps against them. Those who have purchased plots from pattadars wouldn't be allowed to take possession of the land. We have asked pattadars of Singur not to sell their plots,” Mr Prasenjit Chakraborty, block development officer, Singur said. (END) Source: The Statesman
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