Nano Mother Plant Faces Land Issue, Controversies

Following rejection of changes in land-pattern, the prospect of ending the Singur issue Nano Mother Plant Faces Land Issue, Controversiesappears to be heading nowhere. Trinamool Congress is adamant in its demand of returning 300 acres of land in the factory site to farmers, though commerce and industry minister of the state, Nirupam Sen made it clear that no land from the company's main plant or from areas for its ancillary units would be given back.

"We have assured the Tatas again that no land will be taken out of the project area and the state government wants Nano car to roll out from Singur," the minister said. Responding to a question, he confirmed that the government had never accepted Trinamool Congress' demand to do away the Tata small car project.

He said, "We have agreed to explore the possibility of identifying and locating, as much land available in the area, for giving to those affected by the land acquisition."

The government and the company accept that 'Nano car mother factory and ancillary units' formed part of an integrated land structure and therefore change was simply not possible. In this regard, the company is learnt to have recently sent a letter to the government seeking assurance of ‘no change' in the integrated structure.

However, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, remained steadfast in her demand of identifying 300 acres within the project and 100 acres outside it so as to make the agreement implemented. As per recent reports, the government has assured the company that there will be no change in the main plan or structure.  

Despite this, the local Trinamool MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya is reported to have insisted on the demand for 300 acres of land.  Legal experts are of the view that the demand is, if not impossible, difficult to meet..

Additional District Magistrate, Hooghly, Liyaqat Ali, is involved the case.

He says, "Alternative land outside the project area can be given, but the return of acquired land to original landowners is impossible."

Sources say that construction work has begun at least in 850 acres of land and as it stands today, area lying vacant measures just 120 acres. Confusion prevails on the whole issue as there is disagreement between farmers and company officials in terms of compensation and other factors.

For some plots, there are a number of claimants. Such factors make even the process of identification very difficult.

As regards legal matters in the issue, Land and Land Reforms Minister Abdul Rezzak Mollah said, "There are ways to return land but the farmers will not get their old land. The land to be provided for unwilling farmers will not be transferable."