Singur is humming with activity again after 10 years. After the Supreme Court ordered the return of plots acquired for the Tata Nano factory, the Bengal government has begun clearing up the land. The locked gates of the main entrance to the abandoned plant have been opened after a decade and the area has been swarming with government officials, police personnel and vehicles for the past eight days. The Telegraph reporters Kinsuk Basu and Uttam Dutta and photographer Ananda Das zoom in

THE MANDATE

The Supreme Court on August 31 directed the government to return the land to the owners within 12 weeks. The government will have to first identify the owners of 997.11 acres spread over five mouzas — Beraberi, Khasherbheri, Singerbheri, Gopalnagar and Bajemelia. Then, the Singur BDO will have to ensure that the 3,000-odd farmers who had not accepted compensation to protest forcible acquisition collect their money. Finally, the land has to be made cultivatable, as promised by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. 

Till Thursday, around 250 acres had been identified and 200 plots demarcated. 

THE PROCEDURE

Inside

First, the plant site will have to be cleared of bushes and other undergrowth. Surveyors will then demarcate land parcels — ranging between 0.5 acres and 55 acres.

Next, each land parcel will have to be “pegged” — fenced off with plastic tapes linking wooden pieces placed at four corners of the plot. The plots will then have to be marked with mud dumps on all four sides.

Factory sheds with machine installations will have to be dismantled and low-lying areas filled up.

Finally, the land will have to be made cultivatable after removing the debris.

Outside

The block land reforms officer’s office in Singur will have to prepare the “records and rights” of landowners. The office will then receive applications from farmers along with ownership records. Officials will calculate the compensation amounts to be given to the unwilling farmers based on this exercise. Last, cheques will be prepared for individuals. 

THE WORKFORCE

Around 200 personnel from the land and land reforms department are camping at the plant site, identifying land parcels based on the land map that was drawn up with the help of 2005 records.

Apart from the vacant land, the officials will identify the plots on which the factory sheds have come up.

Another 200 personnel from the agriculture department are working out ways to make the land cultivatable.

Around 100 officials from the public works and public health engineering departments are ensuring adequate lights in the project area and drinking water for those on duty.

Nearly 450 labourers have been deployed to clean up the land under the 100-day job scheme. 

LODGING AND FOOD 

The administrative building of the abandoned Tata Motors factory has 13 rooms, each fitted with 8-10 ceiling fans. The officials have been accommodated in these rooms. Each person has been provided with a bedding roll.

Two caterers from Chinsurah and Singur have been hired to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to the 800-odd people who are working in two shifts, from 6am to 6pm. The day starts with tea at 5.30am. Makeshift toilets have been set up along with tents that serve as restrooms. Water is served in small plastic pouches.  

LIGHTS 

Two generators have been pressed into service. A separate connection has been taken from the adjoining 11KV power sub-station. Almost the entire area is covered with cables that feed electricity to 52 halogen lamps.