West Bengal reneges on land-for-land deal in Singur; Mamata weighs options

Mumbai: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has ruled out return of more than 70 acres of land to the agitating farmers, paving the way for another showdown with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

Emerging from an emergency meeting, Left Front chairman Biman Bose said, "A maximum 70 acres was offered from within the project area by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee during his meeting with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday evening. Further land cannot be alloted.''

He said the Left Front has also decided to launch a high-pitch campaign in support of the Nano car project from 14 September across the state, including a `March to Singur' the next day, where top LF leaders would be present.

Mamata, on the other hand, insisted that she will not settle for anything less than 300 acres within the project area. She said she is yet to decide on the future course of action.

She, however, hinted at a march to Singur on 16 September and an agitational programme after 19 September.

The Left Front, Bose said, has proposed a new attractive monetary package at the LF meeting, which envisaged that all land losers would be given an extra 50 per cent of the compensation price.

Bose said that under the package, money would be given to unwilling farmers to buy alternate land outside the project area for those who wanted to remain in agriculture.

He also blamed Trinamool Congress-controlled panchayat in Singur for failing to identify the land to be given to farmers who have not taken the compensation.

He said the Trinamool Congress' demand for shifting of ancillary units of the Tata Motors was a ''ploy to scuttle'' the project.

Tata Motors also ruled out ceding of land in excess of 70 acres from that acquired for its Nano small car project and also filed a writ petition against the West Bengal government and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC)  for alleged violation of provisions of the Right to Information Act of 2005.

WBIDC had made the agreement between Tata Motors and the West Bengal government public by posting it on their website on 9 September. The Calcutta High Court had put a stay on publishing the agreement, reports CNBC TV-18.