Deadlock over Tata's Nano car project

Kolkata, Sept 25 : West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi has called for a sensitive approach to farmers while fulfilling the industry's need for land as the row over Tata's small car project appeared to be heading for a fresh standoff.

"We have to be sensitive to the responses of those who use land and livelihood to projects for industry, housing and infrastructure," Gandhi said during his address to 'Second Green Revolution Summit and Expo' here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is leading the farmers' agitation, has demanded dismissal of the State Government under Article 355 of the Constitution for allegedly going back on its word regarding compensation for farmers affected by the Nano project.

"A government, which can overlook or sideline a decision taken before a constitutional head has no moral ground to continue in office. We want Article 355 to be imposed here," said Banerjee. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has said that Banerjee's opposition to the Nano car factory project was politically motivated.

"They will oppose the project in Singur, the TATA's not because it is automobile plant because they think that Left Front Government of West Bengal should not be allowed to break out the existing hiatus of development," said Prakash Karat, party general secretary. Tata Motors had suspended work at the plant in Singur earlier this month due to violent protests by farmers unhappy with the compensation offered for their land.

At the time of suspending work in Singur, Tata Motors had said it was considering alternative locations to make the Nano.

Last week, Tata Motors said Karnataka, where it is already building a commercial vehicle plant, had offered land.

Tata Motors' managing director said at the time the company was "actively" looking at alternatives including Karnataka. Other states have also made offers to the Tatas.

ANI