Kolkata:
Just weeks after assuming office in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has delivered on one of her most crucial election promises. The West Bengal government has taken back 997 acres of land, with the Tatas on a 99-year lease at Singur, through an ordinance signed by the West Bengal governor on Thursday evening.
In 2007, the Tatas started construction of a factory here to build the Nano car, but left in October 2008, after an agitation led by Mamata Banerjee, in support of farmers who owned 400 of the total 997 acres of land acquired for the project, and had refused to accept compensation for the same.
Now Mamata Banerjee has said the government will return 400 acres of land to the farmers in the area. On the issue of the remaining 600 acres at Singur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The rest 600 acres will be kept open for industry... The Tatas can set up industry if they want. If they (Tata) demand compensation without going in for industry on this 600 acres, we will give them compensation through legal means by appointing an arbitrator."
However, Tata Motors have said they are unaware of any such developments. A statement issued by a Tata Motors spokesperson said, "We are not aware of such a development, and we do not want to make any comment unless we have studied the ordinance."
The decision to return 400 acres to unwilling farmers at Singur was taken on May 20, just hours after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee took oath as the Chief Minister.
In 2007, the Tatas started construction of a factory here to build the Nano car, but left in October 2008, after an agitation led by Mamata Banerjee, in support of farmers who owned 400 of the total 997 acres of land acquired for the project, and had refused to accept compensation for the same.
Now Mamata Banerjee has said the government will return 400 acres of land to the farmers in the area. On the issue of the remaining 600 acres at Singur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The rest 600 acres will be kept open for industry... The Tatas can set up industry if they want. If they (Tata) demand compensation without going in for industry on this 600 acres, we will give them compensation through legal means by appointing an arbitrator."
However, Tata Motors have said they are unaware of any such developments. A statement issued by a Tata Motors spokesperson said, "We are not aware of such a development, and we do not want to make any comment unless we have studied the ordinance."
The decision to return 400 acres to unwilling farmers at Singur was taken on May 20, just hours after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee took oath as the Chief Minister.
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