Singur: Work still suspended at Nano factory

Singur, Sep 8: Though a breakthrough was achieved in Singur talks late on Sunday, Sep 7 night, the Tata Motors factory at Singur still wore a deserted look. None of the contractual labourers, engineers and technical staff arrived at the project site on Monday, Sep 8 morning. Singur was jubilant and upbeat as both the flanks of NH-2 were opened for the free movement of vehicles and the dharna platforms were being dismantled.

Tata Motors lamented on the 'limited clarity' of the talks between Govt and agitators. “We will review our stated position only if we are satisfied that the viability of the project is not being impinged, the integral nature of the mother plant and our ancillary units are being maintained and all stakeholders are committed to develop a long term congenial environment for smooth operations of the plant in Singur," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress Spokesperson Dinesh Trivedi told CNN-IBN, “The suspension of work by Tata is not because of Trinamool. It is an internal problem of the Tatas."

The marathon talks between Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the Trinamool chief at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata ended with Mamata succeding to get back land from the Tata. 'We have been able to extract land not only for the farmers who were unwilling to give away land for the Nano project but also for all the land losers. It is a moral victory for the farmers,'' Ms Banerjee told reporters after arriving here from Kolkata shortly after midnight.

''A committee, headed by Trinamool MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya, would be formed to ascertain the scope of returning maximum amount of land from within the project site and finalise the modalitilies in a week while the state government will urge the vendors for ancillary units not to make any construction,'' she informed.

''The government has assured to respond to the demands of those who have not received compensation, by means of land to be provided to the maximum within the project area and the rest in adjacent areas as early as possible. I hope good sense will prevail over the state administration and it will fulfil its promise,'' she added.

However, Mamata Banerjee asserted that she had not withdrawn the agitation, but only suspended it for seven days.

''I will resume the dharna if the government fails to fulfil the farmers' demands and reach an acceptable solution,'' she averred.

She also informed that her party and its associate outfits will observe September 25 as 'Singur Day' every year.

Meanwhile, victory processions were being organised by the Trinamool supporters as the agitators expressed gratiutde to their 'Didi' and also thanked the state government for considering the demands and welfare of the land losers.

UNI