KOLKATA: The West Bengal Government on Friday signed a land lease deal with the Tatas for the Singur small car project. This marks a significant development in the project, which is trying to forge its way past controversies and bitter opposition over land acquisition.

About 47 acres of land out of the 997.11 acres acquired is being reserved by the West Bengal Industrial Corporation (WBIDC), the State's apex industry promotion agency.

Confirmed

While no details on the 90-year deal are available immediately, the Tata Motors issued a statement confirming that the agreement was signed among the West Bengal Government, the WBIDC and the Tata Motors. While the State Industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen signed on behalf of the Government, Debashis Som represented the WBIDC.

R.N. Thakur, Vice President, Finance of the Tata Motors inked the deal on behalf of his company. The deal was sent to him as he could not come for the signing ceremony after he met with an accident on his way from Jamshedpur.

Dr. Sen told reporters at the State secretariat that details on the deal would be available later. He said that Rs. 1500 crore would be invested in the main project, while another Rs. 500 crore would be spent on ancillary development.

Of the total land covered under the agreement, 645 acres would be required for the mother plant and 290 acres for ancillary development. The WBIDC has reserved 47.5 acres for developing infrastructure like sewerage lines. Around 14 acres would be used for building a 220 KV substation.

Dr. Sen said Tata Motors would roll out the first car by March 2008. The company officials said the small car would revolutionise country's automobile scene.

PTI reports:

A girl was injured here on Friday in an exchange of fire between activists of the CPI-M and the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), opposing the acquisition of land for industries.

Superintendent of Police G.A. Srinivas told PTI that the girl was injured when she was caught in the crossfire between the two sides, based in Khejuri and Sonachura areas.

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