Kolkata: West Bengal government on Tuesday challenged the Trinamool Congress, saying it was ready to
return 11 per cent of the acquired land at Rajarhat township,
if the Mamta Banerjee-led party "allowed Tata to set up their
second small car unit at Singur."
"She is demanding that 10 per cent of the developed
land in Rajarhat township be returned to the farmers. We will
return not 10, but 11 per cent land there, provided she agreed
to the proposal in Singur," state Housing minister Gautam Deb
said at a press conference.
"Let her announce if she was ready to take up the
challenge," Deb said, adding, as a minister he was offering
this proposal with a certain 'responsibility'.
"If she agreed to this proposal in Singur, Chief
Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would talk to Tata. Let the
Tatas come back and open a unit of their small car Nano in
Singur. Let there be a settlement in Singur."
Tata Motors had left Singur in 2008 in the face of
stiff opposition by Trinamool Congress which demanded return
of 400 acres of the nearly 1000-acre acquired land to the
farmers and the Nano factory should come up on the remaining
600 acres.
Deb said if she agreed to the Singur proposal, he will
ensure that 11 per cent land in Rajarhat was returned to the
farmers despite all difficulties.
"Let her confirm tomorrow that she will allow Tata to
set up their second small car unit at Singur," he said.
Defending acquisition of land at Rajarhat New Town
project, Deb in his counter-attack said Mamata Banerjee should
also return 10 per cent of land acquired by the Railways to
the land-holders.
The Railways, he pointed out, had acquired 3716 acres
of land for its 16 projects in the state against a meagre
payment ranging from Rs 2,639 per katha to Rs 8390 per katha.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 00:41