Calcutta, Sept. 2: The Bengal government could offer to the unwilling landlosers in Singur plots for commercial activity outside the Nano project area, industries minister Nirupam Sen said tonight.
In an interview with STAR Ananda, Sen, a key player in the government’s initiative to bring Tata Motors to Bengal, said the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) had land that could be released for the benefit of the landlosers.
“It is not that there is no scope to work out something additional for the aggrieved landlosers. There is land lying with the WBIDC outside the project area and it can be utilised,” said Sen.
He did not say how much land the WBIDC had.
This is the first time the government has come up with a concrete offer to provide alternative land to farmers unwilling to accept compensation cheques in Singur.
Sen made it clear that agriculture would not be possible on these plots. “They can be used commercially. But I can tell you that the income from such commercial ventures will not be any less than that from agriculture.”
He said: “If she (Mamata Banerjee) sits with me, I’ll explain to her why it is not possible to return the plots to the unwilling farmers. I will explain to her that the main Nano plant and the ancillaries will have to be together. If she insists on the return of the plots, the project will have to be scrapped.”
It wouldn’t also be possible to return land to the farmers by acquiring 500 acres opposite the Nano site, shifting the ancillaries and building an underpass to connect them, as Mamata had suggested.
On the announcement that the Tatas were considering pulling out, Sen said: “It is very sad and unfortunate. It is very bad news for Bengal.”
Sen said the government had been assured by leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee that the agitation in front of the project would be peaceful. “But what kind of opposition is this that doesn’t allow such a project to take off? I didn’t realise the Opposition could be so irresponsible,” said Sen.
He was, however, still hopeful about the project. “I am optimistic till the last moment. Let the Opposition hold talks and let us find a solution so that we can tell the investors (Tata) not to withdraw,” he said. (END)
Pantnagar and Pune in toss-up
Mumbai, Sept. 2: The Tatas will have a stark choice to make if they decide to leave Singur: Pune or Pantnagar.
Pune is the best bet in the short term: the prototype of the Nano was developed there and the Maharashtra government has made a strong pitch for the project, promising land on very lucrative terms.
In an interview with STAR Ananda, Sen, a key player in the government’s initiative to bring Tata Motors to Bengal, said the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) had land that could be released for the benefit of the landlosers.
“It is not that there is no scope to work out something additional for the aggrieved landlosers. There is land lying with the WBIDC outside the project area and it can be utilised,” said Sen.
He did not say how much land the WBIDC had.
This is the first time the government has come up with a concrete offer to provide alternative land to farmers unwilling to accept compensation cheques in Singur.
Sen made it clear that agriculture would not be possible on these plots. “They can be used commercially. But I can tell you that the income from such commercial ventures will not be any less than that from agriculture.”
He said: “If she (Mamata Banerjee) sits with me, I’ll explain to her why it is not possible to return the plots to the unwilling farmers. I will explain to her that the main Nano plant and the ancillaries will have to be together. If she insists on the return of the plots, the project will have to be scrapped.”
It wouldn’t also be possible to return land to the farmers by acquiring 500 acres opposite the Nano site, shifting the ancillaries and building an underpass to connect them, as Mamata had suggested.
On the announcement that the Tatas were considering pulling out, Sen said: “It is very sad and unfortunate. It is very bad news for Bengal.”
Sen said the government had been assured by leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee that the agitation in front of the project would be peaceful. “But what kind of opposition is this that doesn’t allow such a project to take off? I didn’t realise the Opposition could be so irresponsible,” said Sen.
He was, however, still hopeful about the project. “I am optimistic till the last moment. Let the Opposition hold talks and let us find a solution so that we can tell the investors (Tata) not to withdraw,” he said. (END)
Pantnagar and Pune in toss-up
Mumbai, Sept. 2: The Tatas will have a stark choice to make if they decide to leave Singur: Pune or Pantnagar.
Pune is the best bet in the short term: the prototype of the Nano was developed there and the Maharashtra government has made a strong pitch for the project, promising land on very lucrative terms.
Award for tata
By AMIT ROY
London, Sept. 2: Leading promoters of Indo-British business last night acclaimed the “iconic” Ratan Tata in a summit followed by a banquet, with Singur inevitably entering into the discussions.
Lord Swraj Paul’s youngest son Angad, who has invested in an ancillary unit at the Singur complex, told The Telegraph on the sidelines of the summit that the consequences of a Tata pullout would be extremely damaging for Bengal.
Tata was not present himself to collect the award at the banquet, thrown by the Lord Mayor of London at Mansion House, to mark the first birthday of the UK India Business Council. http://telegraphindia.com/1080903/jsp/bengal/story_9781745.jsp.
Lord Swraj Paul’s youngest son Angad, who has invested in an ancillary unit at the Singur complex, told The Telegraph on the sidelines of the summit that the consequences of a Tata pullout would be extremely damaging for Bengal.
Tata was not present himself to collect the award at the banquet, thrown by the Lord Mayor of London at Mansion House, to mark the first birthday of the UK India Business Council. http://telegraphindia.com/1080903/jsp/bengal/story_9781745.jsp.
Source: The Telegraph
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