10-25-06, 9:40 p.m.

In the recent period there have been attempts to create confusion and spread misinformation regarding the proposed automobile factory of Tata Motors in Singur in West Bengal. The opposition political parties, including Trinamul Congress and Congress also called a bandh (general shutdown or strike in protest) on the issue, which was rejected by the people of the state. Ever since the Left Front government assumed office, Congress and thereafter the Trinamul Congress, have continuously resisted any steps taken for the economic development of the state. They had opposed land reforms, securing the right of share croppers and the panchayat system. In the 1980s, they had opposed the industrialization efforts of the state government. The then Congress government at the center delayed permission for Haldia petrochemicals, Bakreswar thermal power plant and Salt Lake electronics project. Industrialists who intended to invest in West Bengal, were denied licenses. For long, the opposition claimed that investments would never come to the state as long as the Left Front was in charge. Changed Situation The situation has now changed considerably. After steadfastly fighting against this malicious campaign, West Bengal has been able to create a favorable climate for industrial development. Indian and foreign investors are now showing interest to invest in the state. Considerable investment is flowing in, which in turn is generating more opportunities for employment. This is not to the liking of the Trinamul which has decided to disrupt this process of development at any cost. With the Tata Motors proposing to locate their new automobile factory in West Bengal, the opportunity to have an important manufacturing unit in the state was seen after a long time. The establishment of such a unit would lead to the development of various ancillary units which in turn would help the expansion of small and medium industries. Naturally, this would lead to generation of employment also. The small car project of the Tatas has generated keen interest not only within the country but abroad also. The company has declared that it would market these cars at prices lower than that prevailing in the market currently. They looked for a suitable place for their project in West Bengal. The state government offered them various sites to chose from -- Kharagpur in West Midnapore; Sankrail and Uluberia in Howrah; Haldia in East Midnapore; Dankuni and Singur in Hooghly etc. After detailed discussions and calculating the infrastructural advantages, Tata Motors identified Singur as the most suitable place to locate their unit. The state government gave consent considering the importance of such a project. It is estimated that two and half lakh (250,000) cars per year will roll out of the factory in the first phase and an additional two and half lakh per year from the second phase onwards. It is natural that such a large unit, producing five lakh (500,000) cars annually, would require a large tract of land. This apart, the ancillary units that would come up for the manufacture of automobile parts in the adjacent land would require around 300 acres. It was therefore, calculated that a total of 1,000 acres of land would be required for the project as a whole. In comparison, the Maruti car factory along with the accessory units in Gurgaon, Haryana, has been built on 1,250 acres. The unit produces three and half lakh cars every year. The Pune unit of the Tatas was built on 1,100 acres of land. This unit turns out 4 lakh (400,000) cars per year. In Mumbai, the Mahindra & Mahindra factory is located on 1,060 acres of land. The unit produces 180,000 cars per year. As compared to these, in Singur, only 997 acres have been identified for the Tata Motors project. An estimated five lakh cars will be manufactured annually with the commencement of the second phase. According to official records, more than 900 acres of the identified land are basically mono-crop land. Some variation might have taken place recently, but it is yet to be recorded. Besides, some land has already been transformed for non-agricultural use. According to official records, between November 2005 and July 2006, 527 sale deeds have been signed involving more than 150 acres of land in the five moujas (smallest revenue units) where land has been identified for the Tata unit. Many of the buyers are neither residents of the area nor are they involved in agricultural activities. It is clear that they had bought the lands not for agricultural activities, but for some other purposes. The peasants too while selling their lands were fully aware of this fact. Small and medium manufacturing units, petrol pumps, dhabas etc. have come up on these lands. There was no hue and cry, let alone protests, then on “agricultural lands being given away”. In most cases construction was done without altering the character of the land use. It is only when it was announced that a unit of this nature is proposed to be set up here that voices started emanating from the opposition. Government Exercising Utmost Care The state government is giving the peasants maximum possible compensation within the structure of the existing act. The price for land has been fixed at more than 150 per cent of the current market prices. For the first time in India, the state government has decided to offer compensation to registered share croppers. They will be given 25 per cent of the acquisition price. Every peasant is being paid the full amount either in cash or by chek before acquisition of his land. Alternative arrangements for livelihood are being made for those who had land as the only source of income. Training will be imparted to one member from each family whose lands are being acquired. Agricultural laborers, share croppers, members of the families whose land are acquired will be involved in the development of the land for the industry and other related works. The state government has taken utmost care to avoid fertile and homestead land as much as possible while demarcating land for the project at Singur. The initial proposal was to acquire 1,053 acres. However, more than 127 acres of land in Gopalnagar mouja was taken out of the plan. This land is being irrigated through deep tube well. Likewise, 38 acres of homestead and compact land of Bajamelia mouja was also taken out of the plan. Thus, the total quantity of acquired land has been reduced from 1053 acres to 997 acres. Negative Role of Opposition From the very outset, the state government took the initiative to gain cooperation from all political parties. For this purpose, it organized all party meetings at the district level. Before the work of land acquisition started in the third week of July all party meetings were convened on May 27, June 17 and July 4 in the office of the District Magistrate. Though the proposal to build the factory at Singur was opposed, no alternative proposal was forthcoming. After the Trinamul Congress formed “Save Agricultural Land Committee” at the local level the District Magistrate discussed with the Convener of that Committee on July 27. Another meeting was organized with the local Trinamul MLA in the Block Development Office. These apart, the District Magistrate convened a meeting for the overall development program of the concerned five moujas and for the discussion on the alternative livelihood of those who would lose their lands. The pradhans of three village panchayats (councils) were called for this meeting. The Trinamul pradhan boycotted the meeting. At the state level, the Chief Minster and the Industries Minister repeatedly discussed the land acquisition issue with the opposition leaders of the Assembly. The revised land map, dropping multi-crop land as far as possible, was sent to the opposition leader. At the state level all-party meeting on October 4, 2006, the Congress proposed that until the compressive plan of land use was ready the proposed project in Singur should be withheld. This despite the Tata Motors repeatedly conveying that the economic viability of the project is largely dependent on their being able to start production by 2008. Acceptance of the Congress’ demand would mean shelving the project. It was not possible for the state government to agree to such a demand. It is indeed unfortunate that as opposed to the sincere efforts of the state government to get cooperation from all quarters the opposition has adopted a negative and anti-development attitude. This is not the first time that the Trinamul Congress has tried to block many developmental projects, sometimes even resorting to violence. They tried in vain to oppose the Durgapur Expressway and the Tollygunje canal that was related to the expansion of the Kolkata Metro Rail and which had no relation with agricultural land whatsoever. In Singur, disturbances are being created by the Trinamul based on mobilization of outsiders. The opposition parties who were squarely defeated in the last Assembly elections are pro-active now to disturb the new environment of investment in West Bengal. If they succeed in this effort, they will be able to create confusion and a negative psyche among the investors. This will not be accepted by the people of West Bengal. It is evident that the opposition has learnt no lesson from its defeat and continues to pursue the ill-directed, negative and destructive politics which constitutes the basic reason for their alienation from the people. From People’s Democracy

--Nirupam Sen is minister for industries, government of West Bengal.