West Bengal govt says Singur land can't be returned legally

Kolkata, Aug 31 : The West Bengal Government on Sunday said that it is legally not possible to return the land acquired under the acquisition law for the TATA Nano project.

While quoting a ruling from the Supreme Court, the West Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said, "The way Mamata Banerjee is demanding, it is impossible for the State Government to meet her demand."

"Legally, it is not possible to return the land acquired under Land Acquisition Act," added Sen.

He also said that the issue had also been taken to the Calcutta High Court and it ruled that land acquisition was as per law.

Banerjee led Trinamool Congress is at a sit-in protest at Singur demanding the return of 400 acres of land taken for the TATA Nano project in Singur.

Tata Motors head Ratan Tata has threatened to move the plant if violent protests continued, despite having invested 350 million dollar in the project.

Meanwhile Tata Motor's decision to move out of West Bengal has already been welcomed by states like Maharashtra, Punjab and Orissa, which are willing to give it land for setting up the plant in their regions.

ANI