The Hindu : Front Page : Chances slim, still Buddhadeb asks Tatas not to leave Singur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 26, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Chances slim, still Buddhadeb asks Tatas not to leave Singur

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government appears gradually reconciling itself to the eventuality of Tata Motors pulling out of Singur.

The Cabinet, in a last-ditch effort on Thursday, appealed to the company not to withdraw from Singur and assured it all help and cooperation in implementing the small car project.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee reportedly told the Cabinet meeting that given the present circumstances, he did not have much reason to be very hopeful of the project taking off from Singur. The chances were, indeed, very slim.

(It is learnt that Tata Motors is actively considering plans to shift from Singur in view of the continuing uncertainty and is examining various options.) Though Singur was not on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Bhattacharjee spoke of the events that led to the present situation on being asked by his colleagues about the fate of the project.

Mamata firm

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, at a rally here to mark the second anniversary of its movement at Singur, reiterated that the government should operationalise its “agreement” — with her party and its allies formalised on September 7 in the presence of the Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi — that land be provided to farmers who had not accepted compensation for their land acquired for the project.

Mr. Bhattacharjee is reported to have told his ministers that Tata Motors authorities were considering taking the project out of the State though he was still trying to persuade them to stay on.

Flexibility

The government had shown flexibility in its dealings with the Opposition.

But the Opposition remained firm on return of 300 acres from within the project site and another 100 acres from outside to farmers who, it was being claimed, had not consented to to the acquisition of their plots, the Chief Minister pointed out.

Mr. Bhattacharjee said he was willing to sit for further talks with the Opposition with a greater degree of flexibility to end the Singur impasse.

People of West Bengal want a solution to Singur: Governor

Tatas may pull out of Singur

West Bengal extends deadline for compensation

Buddhadeb voices concern over future of industrialisation

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page