Giving back land to spell doom for Tata Motors' project : Nirupam

Kolkata, Jul 31(UNI) Stressing that giving back land to the Singur farmers would spell a doom for the Tatas' small car project, West Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen today appealed to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee not to put hindrance.

'' Let us sit together to decide how can we find a logical solution without returning land so that the factory can be set up....giving back land implies cancellation of the project, '' he told reporters.

Shortly after the Trinamool leader vowed to intensify her agitation demanding that 400 out of the total 950 acre of land, acquired for the Tata Motors' project, be returned to the erstwhile owners, who had to part with their plots unwillingly, Mr Sen said there was no way it could be done.

'' Most of the people of West Bengal want this project of which 70 per cent is already complete. The law of the land does not permit gving back land once acquired.Even if we so want, it is not possible since the plots in question are scattered through the project site, '' he said.

The Minister promised that the state Government would do whatever possible within the legal framework and rationality to break the stalemate.

He hoped Tata Motors would not back out from project in the state despite the recent incidents of violence and the first Nano car would roll out from the Singur factory, as scheduled, in the later part of this year.

'' I hope Tata Motors will go ahead with the project and set up the factory and the car will roll out from here, '' he said .

A day after a Tata Motors engineer was assaulted at Singur by anti-land acquisition demonstrators, Tata Motors Managing Director Ravikant said in Mumbai yesterday that the company would continue with the project 'as long as its patience lasts'.

He also urged the State Government to take necessary action when some elements were trying to create tension in Singur.

Admitting that Mr Kant had reasons to be perturbed, Mr Sen assured that all steps were being taken to maintain law and order situation so that the progress of the project was not hampered.

Measures were also being taken to tackle the problem politically, he said.

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