Date:15/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061503361300.htm

National

Singur land cannot be returned: Nirupam Sen

Special Correspondent

Legal obstacles to returning land; wall already built at site

Safe return of Nandigram victims discussed at meeting

Basu informed of government's stand on Singur

KOLKATA: No portion of the land acquired for the Tata Motors car project at Singur can be returned to their erstwhile owners but the West Bengal Government is working on an alternative proposal, Industries Minister Nirupam Sen told the Cabinet core committee here on Thursday.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has threatened that her struggle will continue until land acquired without the consent of farmers is returned. Senior Revolutionary Socialist Party leader and Minister Kshiti Goswami said, after the committee meeting, it was clarified that there were legal obstacles to returning land; also a wall was already constructed around the project site.

Ensure safe return

Steps to ensure the safe return of those who fled their homes at Nandigram in the face of months of violencewere also discussed, Mr. Goswami said.

On the question of replying to a letter from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, seeking the views of political parties on an alternative site for setting up a chemical hub in the State, Mr. Goswami said the Left Front partners would convey their views after the matter was discussed in their respective circles.

Mr. Sen had informed veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu of the State Government's position on Singur, the committee was told. Ms. Banerjee raised her demand with Mr. Basu at a meeting with him on June 4. She was then told that discussions on the Singur issue would have to be taken up with the Government.