Work suspension at Singur will continue: Tata Motors

Kolkata: Even as Tata Motors said it was “distressed at the limited clarity on the outcome of the discussions between the Government of West Bengal and the representatives of the agitators in Singur” and that work on the Nano plant will continue to be suspended, the State Government went into overdrive to ensure that the project remained in West Bengal.

At a news conference, the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the Minister for Commerce & Industry, Mr Nirupam Sen, clarified that the Government agreed with the Tatas’ contention that the “integrated auto cluster of 1,000 acres was fundamental to the project.” They said the State Government would write to Tata Motors reiterating its commitment in this regard “as initially agreed and assured.”

Mr Sen said that the mother plant and the vendor park were part of the integrated project and one could not be separated from the other. This was also critical to peg the price of the Nano at projected levels. Asked if there was any possibility of Tata Motors pulling out of Singur, the Chief Minister said: “The government is trying its sincerest” to ensure that the Tatas remained in Singur.

In a letter to the West Bengal Government on Monday, Tata Motors’ Managing Director , Mr Ravi Kant, said the company was “confused” over statements in the media attributed to the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, that it was agreed at Sunday’s meeting that “200-300 acres of land within the project area” would be returned to unwilling farmers and vendors would be shifted across the road.

Tata Motors said it was “distressed at the reported agreement that leaves us at a disadvantage.” It requested “complete clarity on the same to enable us to take an appropriate decision.” Company sources said the “integral nature of the mother plant and ancillary units is sacrosanct. Our position on 997 acres has never changed throughout our discussions with the State government and we were not consulted in the finalisation of the points of agreement.”

The company said it would review its position only if it was “satisfied that the viability of the project is not being impinged,” and that all stakeholders were committed to develop a long term congenial environment for smooth operations of the plant.

Tata Motors suspended work on the plant on September 2 citing the continued agitation at the site.

Ms Banerjee reiterated on Monday that it was agreed during discussions on Sunday that maximum land would be provided within the project area.

“All we wanted was a congenial atmosphere in the future and for that we had discussions with the agitators,” Mr Sen said.

The State Government has formed a committee, whose first meeting will be held tomorrow, to look into the issue of rehabilitation of land losers .

It will be headed by Mr Rabindranath Bhattacharjee, Trinamool Congress leader and local MLA, and will include Mr Becharam Manna, Convenor of the ‘Save Farmland Committee,’ and the Managing Director of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation.