Bhattacharjee appeals for resumption of work at Tata Motors

Kolkata, Sep 21 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today issued an appeal for facilitating the resumption of work at the Tata Motors small car project in Singur.

In a statement issued here, the Chief Minister said, ''I appeal to all the Opposition parties to accept the new compensation package offered by the state government for the Singur land losers.'' He also appealed to the protestors to withdraw their agitation.

"In the face of further delay, this project will move out of West Bengal. Therefore, I appeal to all to avoid further delay and enable the Tata Motors and its ancillary units to resume work in a peaceful atmosphere," Mr Bhattacharjee said.

"I call upon all the people of Singur to cooperate for the larger interest of the state and future generations and contribute towards the realisation of this project, having tremendous potential," he added.

Mr Bhattacharjee had yesterday apprised Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi that the state government was not unwilling to have further discussions on the rehabilitation package with Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee.

The Chief Minister, who was closetted with the Governor for one and half hours, informed Mr Gandhi about the package in details maintaining that the government was also ready to make some "additions" in the package, if required.

He also deliberated on the functioning of the four-member committee, set up for finding solution to the land problem.

Mr Bhattacharjee, however, told Mr Gandhi that no talk could be held on giving more land to farmers from inside the Tata Motors' small car project area.

Earlier, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu had also appealed to all sections of the society to extend their cooperation for resumption of work at the Tata Motors small car factory in Singur.

The CPI(M) patriarch said, ''The Nano car unit at Singur is extremely important for industrialisation and development of West Bengal. I appeal to all to rise above politics and cooperate with the state government for the greater good of the society and the state's people.'' UNI DPM PC RN1703