Kolkata: On August 31 this year, India’s Supreme Court squashed the 2006 order of the erstwhile Left Front government to acquire 400 hectares of agricultural land for Tata Motors’ Nano car plant at Hooghly’s Singur, in West Bengal.

On Thursday, 50 days later, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee returned Singur land to over 2,500 farmers who, along with her, protested against the acquisition of the farmland.

Speaking at the occasion, Banerjee recollected her fight from 2006 to 2008.

“No one will hand out rights on a platter. One has to fight for rights,” said the chief minister.

“We did not quit. The administration used all types of method to oppress and coerce the people. We were even attacked inside the block development office where lights were switched off and the media was kept at bay,” she recalled.

“Singur will become an example in front of the whole world,” Banerjee said while announcing that she has asked the district administration to install a monument in the memory of those who lost their lives during the anti-acquisition struggle.

The apex court has given a tough deadline of 12-weeks and Banerjee said her administration had been working relentlessly to ensure that the work gets finished before November 30.

“There was no point asking the state government to seek more time from the Supreme Court as the chief minister would have never agreed to the same,” said a senior official of the District Magistrates office. “This is Singur, pivotal to her political career. We worked against all odds to ensure that the deadline is met.”

Further complicating matters, the government wanted the land to be made cultivable within a short time.

“With all the construction work that has happened, it was a tough task but we are now getting top soil from other areas to fill up the excavated areas,” the official added.

Apart from land papers, Banerjee also handed over seeds for cultivation of mustard in the area.

“Initially farmers will cultivate mustard in the area,” agriculture minister Purnendu Bose said. “Later the agriculture department will help them in cultivating whatever crop they want.”

The government is also working to create an eco-park in the area to make Singur a possible tourist destination the state.

“The work on eco-park is moving forward, which will be the second such park in the state after Rajarhat. It will be a sight of visit for many,” said another official.