New Delhi, June 22: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today refused to comment on the Tatas moving court but said her government’s decision to take over the Singur land was in accordance with the law.
“Whatever we have done is according to law. It was the commitment of our government to return land to unwilling farmers and we will do it,” she said, in reply to a question.
“In a democracy, everyone has the right to approach the court. I have nothing to comment,” Mamata further said.
But asked if the land return would be delayed because of the Tata petition, Mamata evaded a reply and merely repeated that the government would go ahead with its job.
Earlier, she met Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia who promised around 24 per cent jump in the state’s plan size.
“We are grateful to the Planning Commission for their keen interest to help Bengal…. We have proposed 17 new industrial clusters…. Beautification of Calcutta…. Why Calcutta cannot be like London? We want to make Sunderbans like the African Safari… Digha like Goa and Darjeeling like Switzerland,” a beaming Mamata declared.
Developing tourism was one of her top priorities, she said.
Mamata said she was committed to creating two lakh jobs in the next two years. Asked how, Mamata said the proposed industrial clusters would generate employment.
“Don’t worry, we will do it,” she promised.
But how would industry come up given her stiff opposition to land acquisition, she was asked. Mamata shot back: “I am against forcible acquisition of land. Even industry people appreciated it. I had a meeting with them recently. There will be no problem.”
Mamata received support from an unexpected quarter with Planning Commission member Arun Maira, known to be close to industry, questioning the Tatas’ approach.
“There is a question about what sort of land (and) by what process you are going to convert that land for industrial use,” said Maira, who was with the Tata Group for 25 years, serving on the Tata Motors board from 1981 to 1989.
“Jindals have put up things there, they said they didn’t have any problem in getting land there... if Jindals can find enough to build the steel plant in West Bengal, why could Tatas not find enough land to put up a car factory?” he asked.
The Jindals, who are setting up a steel plant on 4,500 acres, bought 700 acres directly while the state government acquired 3,800 acres. The land, at Salboni in West Midnapore, is not fertile and is located close to Maoist stronghold Lalgarh. Inaugurated in 2008, the project has made little progress.
“She (Mamata) is saying that the process of dealing with the people, whose land you are taking, needs to be improved so that there is more fairness in it... don’t take the most productive agricultural land,” Maira said.
Proximity to the highway and the port was the reason Tatas had chosen Singur, where land is fertile.
Left partners
The Forward Bloc and the RSP stood on Mamata’s side after the Tatas moved court.
Forward Bloc secretary Ashok Ghosh said: “The new government introduced a bill on Singur to return land. We supported the bill in the Assembly. Now, the bill has become an act. So it is our duty to support the act too….
“The Tatas left Singur due to their own reasons, stopping work midway…. After the new government decided to return land to the farmers, the Tatas decided to challenge it in court. This is an absolutely wrong and anti-people move.”
RSP leader and former MP Monoj Bhattacharyya said: “We don’t want to comment on the Tata move. That is between them and the government. We only want speedy return of land in Singur.”
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110623/jsp/nation/story_14149554.jsp
“Whatever we have done is according to law. It was the commitment of our government to return land to unwilling farmers and we will do it,” she said, in reply to a question.
“In a democracy, everyone has the right to approach the court. I have nothing to comment,” Mamata further said.
But asked if the land return would be delayed because of the Tata petition, Mamata evaded a reply and merely repeated that the government would go ahead with its job.
Earlier, she met Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia who promised around 24 per cent jump in the state’s plan size.
“We are grateful to the Planning Commission for their keen interest to help Bengal…. We have proposed 17 new industrial clusters…. Beautification of Calcutta…. Why Calcutta cannot be like London? We want to make Sunderbans like the African Safari… Digha like Goa and Darjeeling like Switzerland,” a beaming Mamata declared.
Developing tourism was one of her top priorities, she said.
Mamata said she was committed to creating two lakh jobs in the next two years. Asked how, Mamata said the proposed industrial clusters would generate employment.
“Don’t worry, we will do it,” she promised.
But how would industry come up given her stiff opposition to land acquisition, she was asked. Mamata shot back: “I am against forcible acquisition of land. Even industry people appreciated it. I had a meeting with them recently. There will be no problem.”
Mamata received support from an unexpected quarter with Planning Commission member Arun Maira, known to be close to industry, questioning the Tatas’ approach.
“There is a question about what sort of land (and) by what process you are going to convert that land for industrial use,” said Maira, who was with the Tata Group for 25 years, serving on the Tata Motors board from 1981 to 1989.
“Jindals have put up things there, they said they didn’t have any problem in getting land there... if Jindals can find enough to build the steel plant in West Bengal, why could Tatas not find enough land to put up a car factory?” he asked.
The Jindals, who are setting up a steel plant on 4,500 acres, bought 700 acres directly while the state government acquired 3,800 acres. The land, at Salboni in West Midnapore, is not fertile and is located close to Maoist stronghold Lalgarh. Inaugurated in 2008, the project has made little progress.
“She (Mamata) is saying that the process of dealing with the people, whose land you are taking, needs to be improved so that there is more fairness in it... don’t take the most productive agricultural land,” Maira said.
Proximity to the highway and the port was the reason Tatas had chosen Singur, where land is fertile.
Left partners
The Forward Bloc and the RSP stood on Mamata’s side after the Tatas moved court.
Forward Bloc secretary Ashok Ghosh said: “The new government introduced a bill on Singur to return land. We supported the bill in the Assembly. Now, the bill has become an act. So it is our duty to support the act too….
“The Tatas left Singur due to their own reasons, stopping work midway…. After the new government decided to return land to the farmers, the Tatas decided to challenge it in court. This is an absolutely wrong and anti-people move.”
RSP leader and former MP Monoj Bhattacharyya said: “We don’t want to comment on the Tata move. That is between them and the government. We only want speedy return of land in Singur.”
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110623/jsp/nation/story_14149554.jsp