SC to hear plea against West Bengal govt, Tatas

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) An application has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking return of Singur land and enhancement of compensation for farmers, whose land was forcibly acquired by the West Bengal government for Nano car factory of Tatas.

The application has been filed by Kedar Nath Yadav, whose petition challenging the forceful acquisition of land for Tata Motors is already pending in the apex court and fresh application has been filed in the same writ petition.

One thousand acres of land had been acquired by the Left Front government headed by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the possession of the same was given to Tatas for common man's car.

Tatas have decided to close down the factory in view of the violent agitation led by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee against the forceful acquisition of the fertile land of farmers.

Left Front government, however, decided not to return the land to farmers.

The applicant has contended that since Tatas have already shifted to Gujarat and have already closed down their Nano car factory in Singur, the land should be returned to farmers, as there is no justification of the decision of the state government to withhold the land.

The petitioner has also pleaded that the poor farmers whose only source of livelihood was forcefully taken away should be adequately compensated for the hardship and losses suffered by them.

Tatas have shifted their Nano car factory to Gujarat after state Chief Minister Narendra Modi gave them 110 acres of prime land on express highway.

Tatas were invited by several state governments.

Mr Bhattacharjee also tried his level best to dissuade Ratan Tata from shifting their factory. Tatas shifted their factory following attack on their staff members by agitating farmers.

Higher compensation has been demanded from Tatas for destroying the fertile and cultivable land of farmers, who were forced to stop cultivation of their land with effect from June 3, 2006.

UNI SC SV RP HS1728