Manmohan sends emissary to Mamata

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday sent an emissary to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to find a way out of the impasse over the acquisition of land for a Tata Motors' project at Singur in West Bengal.

"The Prime Minister sent an emissary to Mamata Banerjee for resolving the Singur deadlock and he hopes his efforts will succeed," state Congress working president Pradip Bhattacharya said after meeting Singh at the N S C Bose International Airport before his departure for Delhi.

Singh expressed concern at the health of Banerjee, whose fast against the Tata Motors' project entered its 21st day on Sunday, Bhattacharya said.  He did not name the prime minister's emissary. Land is needed for setting up industries but it must be ensured that the interests of poor farmers are not affected, the prime minister was quoted as saying by Bhattacharya.

"Manmohanji told us that plenty of barren land is available in West Bengal for setting up industries. But it is up to the state government to decide which kind of land it will offer to investors," Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharya said he and Congress Sudip Bandopadhya informed the prime minister that the situation arising out of the Singur imbroglio was not conducive to development.

"We requested the prime minister to intervene and settle the issue amicably," Bhattacharya said.