Back
Our Bureau Kolkata, Sept. 16 The future of the Tata Motors small car project in Singur continues to remain uncertain even as Trinamool Congress leader Ms Mamata Banerjee conceded on Tuesday that she would have no objection to ancillary units being set up on 100 acres within the small car project area. In the same breath, however, she reiterated her stand that 300 areas from within the project area must be returned to the “unwilling farmers”. Addressing a rally just outside the project site in Singur today, Ms Banerjee said she wanted the Nano project to come up in Singur. The mother plant could come up on 600 acres and ancillaries on another 100 acres. The balance 300 acres available within the project area must be returned to the “unwilling farmers”. Another 100 acres could be returned from adjacent areas, she said, adding that her party would not budge from its demand that a total of 400 acres be returned. Ms Banerjee’s statement on Tuesday marked a departure from her earlier position that ancillary units must be relocated across the road on Durgapur Expressway. She said the State Government must honour the “agreement” that had been entered into with the Trinamool Congress in the presence of the Governor, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, on September 7 after her second round of talks with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Budhadeb Bhattacharjee. She said it had been agreed that “maximum land” would be returned from within the project area. Ms Banerjee said she would decide on her next course of action after meeting the Governor after the latter returns to Kolkata on September 19. She did not rule out resumption of her agitation, which currently stands suspended. Tata Motors welcomes Bengal initiatives ‘Trinamool demand for 300 acres rejected’ © Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu Business Line |