The Hindu : National : We need over 997 acres at Singur: Tata Motors

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We need over 997 acres at Singur: Tata Motors

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Tata Motors authorities have sent a letter to the West Bengal government, stating that they require over 997 acres to set up the automobile manufacturing project and ancillary units in Singur, Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said on Thursday.

The letter was in response to a clarification sought by the government on a letter the company had sent to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on the project.

Ms. Banerjee had highlighted a paragraph in the letter that between 600 and 650 acres was required for the car plant.

On the company’s letter to the government, she said: “They [Tata Motors and West Bengal government] are made for each other.”

There was fresh trouble near the Singur project site in the morning.

The police used batons to disperse a group of Congress supporters, who were protesting against the acquisition of a portion of the land for the project “without the consent” of the owners.

Speaking at an interactive session with industrialists here, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said it was in the interest of West Bengal as a whole that the Tata Motors project started delivering.

“We think that it is important for West Bengal and for industry that the issues are resolved.”

He was referring to the issues pertaining to the land acquisition — the Trinamool claims that 400 acres was acquired without the consent of the owners.

Ms. Banerjee had called for an indefinite agitation outside the Singur project from August 24.

The State authorities were “there to see that the issues will be resolved and the product delivered,” Mr. Yechury said.

Questions being raised on the land acquisition would not affect the flow of investment into the State, he felt. On the contrary, in terms of fresh flow of investments, the State ranked first in the country, he pointed out.

Earlier, industrialists asked Mr. Yechury about the impact of bandhs on investment flow into the State.

“Strike is the last resort of the working class, before that many problems can be solved if you can get your government [the Centre] to respond to the issues [concerned],” he said.

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