Singur talks to resume today

Kolkata, Sep 6 : The dialogue to resolve the Singur Nano car project crisis will resume here today.

The talks between the representatives of the State Government and Trinamool Congress remained inconclusive on Friday evening.

West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi chaired the talks following request from Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharjee and Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee.

Gandhi said the meeting was conducted in a good spirit and there was useful discussions.

Earlier on Thursday evening, the Governor held separate meetings with delegations from both sides and representatives of farmers who are protesting the acquisition of some 400 acres of farmland.

Embroiled in controversy over land acquisition that led to suspension of work at the plant, its chairman Ratan Tata met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on the same day.

Ratan Tata said he was hopeful of launching the Nano as he had planned and the company was doing "everything possible" to meet the deadline. The prospect of the talks has raised hopes that the Rs one lakh car could roll out on time in October this year.

According to reports, Ratan Tata, in his reply to the Governor's letter sent on Wednesday, said he had no problem in participating in any talks on Singur as suggested but was against any change in the land pattern.

The possibility of Tatas pulling out has sparked anger among supporters of the project, many of them farmers who had got compensation or jobs at the factory.

The Nano project has been billed as key to the rejuvenation of industries in West Bengal. The controversy over the factory has hurt the state's image as an investment destination.

In view that the stalemate was exacting social costs of a high magnitude apart from the investment costs and the implications on the polity, Gandhi wrote a letter on Wednesday to Ratan Tata informing him about the initiative taken to resolve the deadlock at Singur.

ANI