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The impasse between Mamta Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government led by Budhadev Bhattacharjya of the CPI(M) over 400 acres of agricultural land acquired for the Tata Motors Nano car plant at Singur and leading to stoppage of all works at the Nano plant for more than a week now ,is heading for a solution at the intervention of the West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi. The Governor had presided over a meeting of representatives of Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government and the first round of talks though not conclusive is likely to end the stalemate. Mamta Banerjee is firm on the return of the 400 acres of land meant for setting up of ancillary units by Tata Motors. The West Bengal Government has rejected the demand on legal grounds and also questioned the authenticity of the area of land demanded by Mamta Banerjee. The Tata Motors chairman has also written a letter to the Governor opposing any change of land use by the Tata Motors at this stage. Earlier, the chairman of Tata Motors had threatened to pull out the Nano plant from West Bengal for the safety of the employees, equipment and viability of the project.
Caught amidst this purely political game played by Mamta Banerjee are the poor farmers of Singur who not only had to part with their land but also forgo their income from daily wages of Rs 109 for closure of the plant. About 900 youths of Singur have been trained and employed in the project besides employment opportunities with the contractors involved in the project. Already there are reports of protests against Mamta’s indefinite siege of the Nano plant. The West Bengal Governor took the initiative to bring the two warring parties to the negotiation table, which the Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharjya could not do due to refusal of Mamta Banerjee. The West Bengal Government is now considering to offer a better package to all the farmers whose land was aquired. The Governor has suggested to offer land elsewhere in lieu of land acquired, to the farmers which might satisfy the Trinamool Congress leader. We do hope the Governor would be successful in his endeavour. Whatever may be the outcome of the discussions, Mamta has done irreparable damage to the image of the West Bengal Government as an attractive destination for investment in industries. Tata chairman has plans to roll out the one lakh rupee Nano car as per schedule from another plant despite Mamta’s indefinite siege of the Nano plant at Singur. The State government’s failure to give adequate protection to the employees of the plant and its unsuccessful attempt to open the National Highway as per the orders of the Calcutta High Court, show how a government can buckle under political pressure. source: assam tribune 07.09.08
The impasse between Mamta Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government led by Budhadev Bhattacharjya of the CPI(M) over 400 acres of agricultural land acquired for the Tata Motors Nano car plant at Singur and leading to stoppage of all works at the Nano plant for more than a week now ,is heading for a solution at the intervention of the West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi. The Governor had presided over a meeting of representatives of Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government and the first round of talks though not conclusive is likely to end the stalemate. Mamta Banerjee is firm on the return of the 400 acres of land meant for setting up of ancillary units by Tata Motors. The West Bengal Government has rejected the demand on legal grounds and also questioned the authenticity of the area of land demanded by Mamta Banerjee. The Tata Motors chairman has also written a letter to the Governor opposing any change of land use by the Tata Motors at this stage. Earlier, the chairman of Tata Motors had threatened to pull out the Nano plant from West Bengal for the safety of the employees, equipment and viability of the project.
Caught amidst this purely political game played by Mamta Banerjee are the poor farmers of Singur who not only had to part with their land but also forgo their income from daily wages of Rs 109 for closure of the plant. About 900 youths of Singur have been trained and employed in the project besides employment opportunities with the contractors involved in the project. Already there are reports of protests against Mamta’s indefinite siege of the Nano plant. The West Bengal Governor took the initiative to bring the two warring parties to the negotiation table, which the Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharjya could not do due to refusal of Mamta Banerjee. The West Bengal Government is now considering to offer a better package to all the farmers whose land was aquired. The Governor has suggested to offer land elsewhere in lieu of land acquired, to the farmers which might satisfy the Trinamool Congress leader. We do hope the Governor would be successful in his endeavour. Whatever may be the outcome of the discussions, Mamta has done irreparable damage to the image of the West Bengal Government as an attractive destination for investment in industries. Tata chairman has plans to roll out the one lakh rupee Nano car as per schedule from another plant despite Mamta’s indefinite siege of the Nano plant at Singur. The State government’s failure to give adequate protection to the employees of the plant and its unsuccessful attempt to open the National Highway as per the orders of the Calcutta High Court, show how a government can buckle under political pressure. source: assam tribune 07.09.08
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