Nano project in Singur is irreversible: CM

Kolkata, Aug 23(UNI) A day after Mr Ratan Tata sounded a pull out threat, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asserted that the Nano project in Singur was irreversible.

''There is no question of the project being pulled out from West Bengal. It shall be implemented in Singur within the schedule,'' he told reporters after an emergency meeting of the ruling Left Front.

Mr Bhattacharjee, however, categorically said his government would not seek a truce with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee by agreeing to return 400 acres of the project site to farmers, but it was ready to continue dialogues with the Opposition on rehabilitation of the land losers.

''Giving back 400 acres out of the project area means scrapping the project. It is totally impracticable. It is neither desirable nor possible,'' he said.

''We are rather prepared for negotiations on such issues as rehabilitation, which are practicable and have legal ground,'' the Chief Minister said.

Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata had yesterday ruled out any possiblity of altering the project site and said Tata Motors would make an exit with the small car project from West Bengal if the political violence continued.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who declared to lay a siege to the Singur project by going ahead with an indefinite dharna from tomorrow, however, maintained that she would continue her agitation unless 400 acres of land was returned.

''If Tata Motors wants to move out from the state let them do so,'' she had said.

Referring to news reports that overtures were being made to the Tatas to shift the Nano project to other states following the political turmoil in West Bengal, the Chief Minister today said he was optimistic about Tata Motors going ahead with its work in Singur when 85 per cent of the plant was almost complete, ancillary units had been set up and a target to roll out the Rs one-lakh car had been set for October.

''I do not think there will be any problem which will force the Tatas to quit,'' he said.

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