In West Bengal nearly 70% percent land is agricultural and fertile. Most of lands are multicrop. Farming is a source of livelihood for nearly 80% of the population.
In the times of food crisis agri-based development is the most suitable and sustainable option for such states.
The developmental agenda without taking consensus of grassroot farmers is bound to be debated, opposed and politicised.
Singur blockade has backing of all leading developmental and environmental activists from likes of Medha Patkar to Vandana Shiva, unfortunately who they are being branded as anti-national, corrupt and anti-development.
There should be national debate on such issues which affects majority of unvisible farming communities.

Thank you, madhuri for your insightful comment.

Should industry, roads, highways, railway lines, institutes of learning or any other project be based only on non agricultural land?

If development means only industry, highways, railway lines, institutes of learning and real estates without sparing agricultural lands and without giving proper rehabilitation package and alternate dignified livelihood to farming communities then this development will bring in more displacement, unemployment and poverty rather than overall economic growth.
I think we need to strike a balance between agri-based industry where we take along majority of Indian agricultural community and other modern industries which will anway invade thanks to global economic trends and globalisation.
Monetary compensation is not enough when you take away roots, shelter and dignified source of livelihood from people along with their lands.
A piece of land sustains not just the land owners and their family but also labourers who work on the lands and their family, it is also linked to village economy and agri-economy of nation and also linked to the rice and vegetables we eat and something which is becoming unaffordable!
Development needs to be questioned and debated...

It does not.

These are the manifestations of modern development. I did not mention the oft repeated and never implemented primary health care, primary education, hygiene, transportation, communication, jobs and means of livelihood for obvious reasons.

Will it interest you to know that a survey of agricultural land is carried out by the state government every 10 years and farmer’s land is reduced to make ways for opening up community halls, connecting roads, police stations, block development offices, plantation, etc. on top of that, government takes over land for state government projects, defence projects, SEZs, parks, etc. on the drop of a hat.

So what will happens to the future of agriculture and farmer?

what purpose will be served by disturbing singur
i am sure this will be a case study a benchmark for the future projects
let promotors directly negotiate while conceptualising the projects a cooperative be formed which is made a stake holder in the project
with fragmented holdings furthur subdivided & future generation unwilling to work on land the indian farther is doomed in the present scenerio
let there be a change in the mind set without political parties frying their fish

Just posted another article on the issue:
http://madkat70.instablogs.com/entry/debating-development/