Mamata adamant as Tatas say land constitutional right
Published on Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 18:25 | Source : CNBC-TV18
Updated at Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 19:47
The battle for Singur has now moved to court. Tata Motors today challenged the recently introduced Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act in the Calcutta High Court, saying status quo should be maintained and the court should be the custodian of the Singur land.
Despite an adamant West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tatas have swayed the case on the strategic argument that it is a constitutional right to acquire land for a public purpose without any consent, reports CNBC-TV18's Amrita Panja.
Banerjee, however, remains inflexible, saying the new state government will keep its promise and return the land to the farmers. In reaction the move by Tatas, Banerjee said, "It is their prerogative, however, the government passed the bill and the Singur land will be handed over to unwilling farmers."
Tatas moves HC against Mamata's Singur Bill
The controversial land is under the possession of the West Bengal government. However, Tata Motors' lawyer Samaraditya Pal said that the government set up the criteria for adoption of policy which is contrary to what is provided in the constitution.
The argument that has been placed by Tata Motors saying how they were compelled to leave the premises, had to shift their project out from Singur because of the agitation that had followed, it was unsafe for their employees, and that they were much ahead of time in terms of the project completion but they were compelled due to agitation by a party, which is now in power and are trying to revoke the lease between WBIDC and Tata Motors.
Meanwhile the Singur Land Bill has found support from within the highly influential planning commission. Arun Maira defended the act and said that if other corporates like the Jindal Group could acquire enough land in West Bengal, then what is holding back the Tata Group.
"The Jindal's have put up a private thing and they said they didn't have any problem getting the land there. It is not a matter about West Bengal; it's a matter of the government," said Maira. He said the question is about the land that is processed to convert for industrial use.
Tata takes Mamata to court over Singur
Monideepa Banerjie, Alok Pandey, Updated: June 22, 2011 19:29 IST
Kolkata Daily Deal – Up To 90% Off The Best Stuff To Do! Shopping, Spas, Events And More.
Click to Expand & PlayLate last evening, a government notice was pasted at the gate of the Tatas' factory, asking it to vacate the premises. Police then arrived to help local administration officials, who locked the factory gate at 1 am. (Read: Govt's letter to Tatas asking them to vacate)
The government's action is based on the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 which was passed on June 14 by the West Bengal Assembly; the Opposition walked out in protest. The bill allows the government to revoke a 99-year lease signed by the Left when it was in power for 997 acres of land. (Read: Singur Land Bill passed in West Bengal Assembly)
Tata Motors, in court, described the Bill as "a fraud on the Constitution." Arguing that the Bill is illegal, the company's lawyers said that the government cannot use force to reclaim land. (Read: Tata responds to Govt notice)
The court, however, did not agree to the Tatas' request for the land to be kept in the custody of the District Magistrate while the case is heard. At Singur, farmers said they have faith that their land will soon be returned to them by Ms Banerjee.
After repeated protests - some of them violent - by farmers supported by Ms Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Tata abandoned its plant in October, 2008. By this time, it says, it had invested 1800 crores in the Singur factory and had spent another 440 crores on constructing buildings and adding infrastructure.
Returning 400 acres at Singur to farmers who say they did not want to hand over the land to the government was one of Ms Banerjee's biggest campaign promises.
In the Singur Bill that was passed, Ms Banerjee accused the Tatas of "non-commissioning and abandoning" their project. The company disagrees strongly with this. In a statement earlier this month, Tata Motor said, "The operations of setting up and commissioning of the plant was conducted under very difficult conditions, amidst violence... there being no guarantee of a safe and peaceful environment, Tata had to reluctantly close operations on October 3, 2008."
For NDTV Updates, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook
- Also See
| Plan panel member questions Tatas approach in Singur |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi June 22, 2011, 17:00 IST |
Amid confrontation between Tatas and the West Bengal government over the Singur issue, Plan panel member Arun Maira today questioned the group's approach saying corporates should be careful in what sort of land is acquired and how it is converted for industrial purposes.
"There is a question about what sort of land (and) by what process you are going to convert that land for industrial use," Maira told reporters at a Ficci function referring to the problems faced by Tata Motors at Singur.
"Jindal's have put up things there, they said they didn't have any problem in getting the land there. If Jindal's can find enough (land) to build up the steel plant in West Bengal so why could Tata's not find enough land to put up a car factory?" he added.
Maira also said a common ground was required so that industrialisation can happen while keeping the interest of farmers intact, as pointed out by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
"She is saying that the process of dealing with the people, whose land you are taking, needs to be improved so that there is more fairness in it. Don't take the most productive agricultural land," he said.
Tata Motors had pulled out of the Nano project in October 2008 after a violent protest in Singur against land acquisition spearheaded by Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.
Last week the state assembly had passed Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011.
The Calcutta High Court today refused to hear Tata Motors' petition ex-parte challenging the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011.
The High Court has directed Tata Motors counsel Samaraditya Pal to serve notice to the state government.
The Act scrapped the previous Left Front government's deal with Tata Motors and provided for return of land to the unwilling farmers.
Singur: The second round begins
Jun 22, 2011
 |
Singur (WB), June 22, 2011
Meanwhile, the Hooghly district administration has pasted 54 notices signed by district magistrate Sripriya Rangarajan on the walls of the project site with a copy of the gazette notification scrapping the land deal with the Tatas.
Private security guards of Tata Motors have vacated the site. Villagers alleged that a huge quantity of material from the abandoned factory was stolen last night after the departure of the security guards.
Official sources said that no one was being allowed into the abandoned project site.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Medha-Patkar-undertakes-padayatra-in-Singur/Article1-712388.aspx
|
| More stories in Front Page |
| • Hopes dashed for Dumka tech cradle • NDFB rebels take refuge in Bengal • Disquiet hovers untamed • Land taken, battle legal • After Ahmad, hangman crunch • Just what Asim wanted • One cabinet berth on Mamata lips • Mamata mix, not like rasogolla with pantua • Power spat over DVC |
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110622/jsp/frontpage/story_14145101.jsp
Last Updated: 15:36 IST(22/6/2011)
-
News for Singur Tata
Business StandardTata takes Mamata to court over Singur
1 hour agoKolkata: Tata Motors has taken Mamata Banerjee's government to court over her decision to reclaim the land at Singur allotted to the company in 2007 for its ...NDTV.com - 140 related articles -
Singur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 3 visits - 25 MaySingur gained international media attention since Tata Motors started constructing a factory to manufacture their $2500 car, the Tata Nano at Singur. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singur - Cached - Similar -
Singur Tata Nano controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 3 visits - 10 JunTata Nano Singur Controversy refers to the controversy generated by the Nano ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singur_Tata_Nano_controversy - Cached -
Tata moves court against Singur Act - The Times of India
22 Jun 2011 ... Tata Motors moved Calcutta high court on Tuesday night, challenging the legality of the Singur land return Act, barely an hour after ...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tata...Singur-Act/.../8945592.cms - Cached -
Tata official to visit Singur - Times Of India
3 Jan 2011 ... SINGUR: Keeping hopes alive of an industry coming up at the ...
articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com › Collections › Singur - Cached -
Tata to challenge Bill scrapping Singur deal - The Times of India
21 Jun 2011 ... The Bill scrapping the previous Left Front government's deal ...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tata-to...Singur.../8942276.cms - Cached -
Tata takes Mamata to court over Singur
22 Jun 2011 ... Tata Motors has taken Mamata Banerjee's government to court over her decision to reclaim the land at Singur allotted to the company in 2007 ...
www.ndtv.com › India -
Singur Act: Calcutta HC directs Tata Motors to serve notice on ...
22 Jun 2011 ... Singur Act: Calcutta HC directs Tata Motors to serve notice on Bengal government - The Calcutta High Court today refused to hear ex-parte ...
www.indianexpress.com/news/singur-act-calcutta-hc...tata.../807095/ -
Tata to challenge Bill scrapping Singur deal - India News - IBNLive
21 Jun 2011 ... The Bill scrapping the previous Left Front government's deal with Tata Motors to return land to 'unwilling' farmers in Singur will be ...
ibnlive.in.com/news/tata-to-challenge-bill...singur-deal/161479-3.html -
Recall why we left Singur: Tata Motors - Rediff.com Business
15 Jun 2011 ... The legislation revokes the original lease agreement signed between TataMotors, the country's biggest automobile maker, and the West Bengal ...
www.rediff.com › Business - Cached -
Tata Motors slips after vendors protest against Singur Bill ...
14 Jun 2011 ... Tata Motors vendors have gone up in arms against the Singur Bill. Sona Koyo Chairman said vendors should be compensated by West Bengal govt.
www.moneycontrol.com › News › Corporate Strategy › Advertising - Cached
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment