Date:05/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090560521500.htm

National

Crucial talks today on Singur car project

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The ground has been prepared for Friday’s critical meeting between representatives of the West Bengal government and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to end the standoff over land acquisition for the Tata Motors project at Singur. Delegations from both sides held separate meetings with Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi here on Thursday.

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, in a letter to the Governor, has reportedly said he is against any change in the existing land pattern at Singur but is not averse to participating in talks on the project, a source said. A copy of the letter was sent to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Mr. Bhattacharjee called on the Governor in the evening — the second time since Tata Motors announced on Tuesday indefinite suspension of work at Singur in view of the continuing confrontation and agitation there.

“The Governor is looking forward to a meaningful dialogue tomorrow [Friday],” a Raj Bhavan release said. He will chair the discussions in response to requests from the Chief Minister and Ms. Banerjee.

A climbdown of sorts from their positions could be expected in the talks, aimed at breaking the deadlock. But whether the two sides will be able to arrive at an agreement on recompensing — with a sustainable economic rehabilitation package — those from whom Ms. Banerjee alleges land was forcibly acquired for the project is the question doing the rounds in both political and industry circles here.

At Singur, Ms. Banerjee said she was hopeful of a solution emerging in the course of the talks. The government too expressed the hope that the issue would be resolved shortly.

Justice Chittatosh Mukherji, former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and former acting Governor of Maharashtra, will advise the Governor on legal aspects in the course of the discussions. He was present at Thursday’s talks.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool-led agitation outside the project site demanding the return of 400 acres of land to owners entered the 12th day.

Leader of the Opposition and senior Trinamool MLA Partha Chatterjee, along with four others, representing Ms. Banerjee, held talks with Mr. Gandhi later in the day.