CPM lets Mamata build coach factory on Nano land

The Singur controversy in West Bengal took a dramatic turn on Tuesday with the state government, agreeing, in-principle, to Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee’s proposal to set up a railway coach factory at the Nano project site.

The state chief secretary, Ashoke Mohan Chakrabarty, said on Tuesday the state has forwarded a letter to the Railway Board chairman. “The railway minister had earlier given a proposal for setting up a railway coach factory on the erstwhile Nano site at Singur. The state is willing to assist the Railways if they want to set up a factory there. If they want, we will hand over the entire land that had been allotted to the Nano factory to the Railways,” Chakrabarty said.

When pointed out that the lease period of the land with Tata Motors Ltd is yet to be over, Chakrabarty said as soon as the state government receives any concrete proposal from the railways, it will start a dialogue with Tata Motors Ltd.

“We are confident that getting back the land will not be difficult,” Chakrabarty said.
The total land allotted for Nano is 1,000 acres. Mamata has proposed setting up a railways coach factory over 600 acres after returning the remaining 400 acres to the “unwilling farmers” from whom land was acquire.

Political analysts view this development as a tactical move on the part of the state government, by which it aims to pass on the complications related to the land row to Mamata’s shoulders.

“Politically, it is now not possible for Mamata to renege on her earlier promise to return the disputed 400 acres, which have their attendant legal and technical snags. First, under the present land acquisition laws, there is no provision for return of acquired land to original owners. At the same time, the said land has already been raised for setting up industry as a result of which it has lost its fertility and hence has no use for farming. Now it is to be seen how Mamata managers these two complications and come out with a commonly accepted solution,” a senior political analysts here said.

A Trinamool source, reacting to the developments, said: “The rail coach factory will be set up on 600 acres only. It is possible to set up a coach factory on this much land. This conclusion has been drawn after railway engineers inspected the site and gave such indications.”

Asked how could the 400 acres be returned, when there was no legal provision for it, the source cited the recent Allahabad High Court decision that restores farmers’ can return compensation for land. “The existing land acquisition law can be amended,” the source added.

The source further said: “In all probability, the entire rail coach factory project will start rolling post 2011, when we come to power. The present government, taking the refuge of the existing law, is not likely to do anything within this time frame.” Although senior state ministers, including the state chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not spare a single word on this development, CPI(M) sources said they would be happy if any industry comes at Singur.

Buoyed by her party’s recent victories and hoping for a red carpet welcome in the state assembly elections in 2011, Banerjee has been trying to capitalise on railway infrastructure projects.

She recently laid the foundation stone for an auto hub at Shalimar and a Rs 3 crore perishable cargo centre at Singur.

The state’s offer of Nano land is being seen as a turning point in the state politics.
And, this is where the CPM government in Bengal is planning to derail Banerjee’s Writer’s Building dreams.

The letter, a copy of which is available with DNA Money, reads, “The state government, in-principle, is agreeable to hand over the entire land at Singur to the railways for setting up a coach manufacturing factory. Now that the Tatas have withdrawn from the project, the state may advise the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) to initiate the process to resume the land as soon as a firm decision is taken by the railways on future use of land.”

CPM, which has been wilting under the Mamata wave in West Bengal — be it panchayat, Lok Sabha and by-elections, is quick to brand the move as one favouring the stake holders in agricultural economy.

“This only reaffirms the state government’s commitment to set up industry while addressing the concern of farmers and all others who might not have proprietary rights over the land but had stake in agricultural economy,” said a senior CPM leader.

“The offer to the railways also indicates that the state government has no preference for any particular industrial group but to industry as such for employment creation,” he added.