Tata group not to leave West Bengal, says Cyrus Mistry

KOLKATA: Chairman of Tata Sons Cyrus Mistry today said that the group has no intention to leave West Bengal.

"Tatas have never left West Bengal. We will never leave West Bengal as a group," Mistry told shareholders at the AGM of Tata Global Beverages.

Mistry, who chaired the meeting for the first time after becoming the Chairman of Tata Sons last year, succeeding Ratan Tata, declined to make any comment on the Supreme Court's recent observations on Singur.

"The matter is sub-judice and we do not want to discuss at this stage," Mistry told reporters after the meeting.

The apex court had said that the Tata Motors should make its stand clear on its leasehold rights over the Singur land in the wake of the changed scenario as the company had already moved its Nano car plant out of West Bengal to Gujarat.

Tata group not to leave West Bengal, says Cyrus Mistry

West Bengal government gears up for auto components park

Kolkata: After the Singur jolt, the West Bengal government is slowly making arrangements to house the state’s first auto components park in Guptamoni in West Midnapore district. A special purpose vehicle (SPV), floated by the developers of the project, has now started buying land directly from land owners in Guptamoni, some 127 km from here, a top official of West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corp (WBIIDC) told mediapersons Friday.

“The project started around a year back. The SPV is now purchasing land directly for the project from the land owners,” the official said.It is a joint venture project by WBIIDC and Bengal SREI Infrastructure Development. WBIIDC is an organisation of the West Bengal government for development of trade, commerce and industries in the state.

Bengal SREI is a joint venture between West Bengal Industrial Development Corp (WBIDC) and SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd. WBIIDC and Bengal SREI would develop the infrastructure and then invite auto component manufacturers to set up manufacturing units over there. Asked when the project would be completed, the official said: “It is too premature to talk about it now. We are still purchasing land.” The park would be spread over 500 acres.

The state government suffered a huge setback when global auto major Tata Motors pulled its Nano car project out of the state due to violent protests by farmers, who alleged that their land had been taken by the state government forcibly. The protests were led by the state’s principal opposition party, the Trinamool Congress. At Rs.100,000 ($2,000) Nano has been advertised as the world’s cheapest car.

Tata Motors acquired 997.11 acres at Singur in Hooghly district to construct the Nano car factory in 2006, out of which 400 acres were earmarked for building auto ancillary units. “No auto component company has approached us yet. The project is still at a nascent stage and the economic condition worldwide is also not very conducive,” the official said.

Tata Nano all set to hit the road on 23rd March

Kolkata, 27th February: FINALLY THE long wait of the middle class people for the Rs one lakh Tata Nano car seems to be coming to an end. On Thursday (February 26), Tata Motors announced that the Tata Nano will be launched at a glittering function in Mumbai on March 23, 2009.

According to company sources Tata Nano cars will be on display at Tata Motors dealership from the first week of April 20009. From the second week of April 2009 people can book the dream car. Tata Motors said that the booking process and other details of the Rs one lakh car will be announced on the day of the launch.

Meanwhile, the company is making arrangements for the widest possible network to book the car, so that interested customers can conveniently avail booking facilities at their locations, across India. Touted as the world’s cheapest family car, Tata Nano car was first unveiled at the auto expo in Delhi on January 10, 2008. Since it’s unveiling, the car has evoked unprecedented interest in the country.

The official website of Tata Nano has recorded over 30 million hits in the past one year and at the same time over 6,000 interest groups and communities have been created. However, due to rift between Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress Party and West Bengal government, Tata Motors had to relocate its manufacturing plant from Singur to Sanad in Gujarat.

Tata Motors ambitious project Tata Nano has became the centre of attraction for middle class people, who were earlier not able to buy four wheelers. Let us see, how much interest people show n buying the car, as the whole country has been badly hit by recession.

Tata Motors moves HC on Singur land allotment

Kolkata, 3rd December, 2008: Tata Motors has approached the Calcutta High Court against an RTI application seeking details of its agreement with the West Bengal government on the land allotment at Singur, from where the company has since moved out.

The company on Tuesday challenged before the High court the RTI Commissioner's competence to deal with the matter, with its counsel submitting before Justice Dipankar Dutta that the Right to Information Act was not applicable in case of an agreement involving industrial secrets.

Justice Dutta has scheduled the matter for hearing on Friday. The company said in its petition that as the Nano project has been shifted to Gujarat from West Bengal, there was no logic in seeking to know a deal which has fallen through.

Justice Dutta had on September 26 set aside an earlier order of the information commissioner here on Tata Motors' plea that it had not been given a chance to be heard by the commissioner before ordering revelation of the agreement. The court had then directed the commissioner to hear the matter afresh giving all parties fair chance to be heard.

However, after one hearing, Tata Motors moved the High Court again with the fresh plea and Justice Dutta took it up yesterday. The prestigious Nano car project was shifted to Gujarat following prolonged agitation by unwilling farmers demanding return of land.

‘Tata’s exit will not be complicated’

Kolkata, November 13, 2008: The exit route for Tata Motors from Singur will not be a complicated one, Principal Secretary of state for commerce and industry, Sab-yasachi Sen, has assured.

“As and when the Tata Motors takes out all the equipment from the site, they can terminate the lease with the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) — but not before that. The same applies for the 290 acres of land that is with the vendors,” said Sen.

He said the factory site has many types of equipment that had been assembled with the help of engineers from Japan and Germany. “Assembling the unit took about two years. The state government has to give them legitimate time to bring out all the equipment. Even if not two years, we are expecting them to take anything between six months to a year,” said Sen.

He said the commerce and industry department will keep a layout ready for possible future projects. “We will conduct a survey of the land and prepare a blueprint with roads, drainage, sewerage and the overall layout. The area might be taken by a single company or two companies or we may even have an industrial park. Layout for all options will be prepared,” the minister said. He, however, added that only when the existing lease agreement is terminated, concrete progress can be made with other companies. The land lease is renewed every year and the present lease will lapse in March.

WBIDC Managing Director Subrata Gupta, meanwhile, confirmed that vendor companies have already started approaching WBIDC for terminating the lease. “Recently we received a letter from one vendor company stating that they would like to terminate the lease and take the money back,” said Gupta.

Sen also said the proposal for Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) at Nayachar has been sent to the 14-member high-power committee chaired by the cabinet secretary. The proposal was approved by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers two days ago. “We hope the high-power committee will clear it soon. Then the proposal will go to the Cabinet,” he said.

Regarding Salim group’s investments in Gujarat, he said: “We have no apprehensions of the group pulling out its projects from West Bengal. Both Mahabharat Motors and New Kolkata International Development Pvt Ltd (NKID) are on track. It is a big group which can invest anywhere it wants,” added Sen.

Tata's open letter to west bengal people through huge ads

Kolkata, Oct 17 (IANS): A fortnight after pulling out the Nano plant from Singur, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata Friday asked the people of West Bengal to support either the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee-led government 'to build a prosperous state' or suffer the 'destructive political environment of confrontation' that he id was being espoused by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

In an act unusual for an industrialist, Tata made sharp, politically-explosive comments eulogising the state government and running down Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, the main opposition party in the state, through huge advertisements in several dailies here.

In the advertisement, headlined 'Open Letter to the citizens of West Bengal', Tata urged the people, particularly the younger citizens, to express their views and aspirations as to what they would like to see the state become in the years ahead.

'Would they like to support the present government of Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to build a prosperous state with the rule of law, modern infrastructure and industrial growth, supporting a harmonious investment in the agricultural sector to give the people of the state a better life?

'Or would they like to see the state consumed by a destructive political environment of confrontation, agitation, violence and lawlessness? Do they want education and jobs in the industrial and high-tech sectors or does the future generation see their future prosperity achieved on a 'stay as we are' basis?'

Then he went on to fire the salvo that had Kolkata talking Friday morning: 'The confrontative actions by the Trinamool Congress led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee and supported by vested interests and certain political parties opposing the acquisition of land by the state government have caused serious disruption to the progress of the Nano plant.'

Tata said his company had two years ago decided to bring out Nano from Singur as it had 'tremendous faith and confidence' in the state government.

'It reflected the tremendous faith and confidence we had, and still have, in the investor-friendly policies of Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's government. All through the two years that we have been constructing the plant at Singur, this feeling of faith and confidence in the vision and objectives of the state government has been reinforced.

Slamming the Trinamool for leading a farmers' agitation which forced Tata Motors to shift the Singur project Oct 3, Tata said the protests had the backing of 'vested interests'.

Tata recalled that the state was a major centre for heavy industry and steel fabrication in the past, but agitation and violence drove away many industries around 30 years ago.

'History appears to be repeating itself. Agitation, violence and terror are overtaking the state in the name of the agricultural community, to serve political goals - stalling progress and destroying the new-found confidence in the state, while doing nothing for the rural poor, other than making promises,' he said.

Detailing the reasons for withdrawing from Singur, Tata said the company had to endure constant acts of open aggression on the site, occasional acts of violence, breaking of compound perimeter walls, and theft of construction material from within the project area.

He squarely blamed the Trinamool for the breakdown of talks with the government to resolve the Singur impasse, saying: 'Various attempts at finding a solution were thwarted by the Trinamool Congress' consistent demand that land acquired for the Nano plant and/or its integrated vendor park be returned to the segment of the land owners which the Trinamool Congress party claims to represent.'


He also referred to the 'intimidation and even physical assault of employees, contract labour and residents of the area to be absorbed in the project. Country bombs have been lobbed into the premises, obstructing the movement of material and personnel into and out of the plant'.

Tata said that the project had been conceived as an integrated campus of manufacturing facilities and suppliers, so as to maximise integration and minimise logistics and material flow costs.

'Disruption of this integrated campus would make it extremely difficult for the company to meet its product price and productivity goals,' the advertisement said.

Tata said he was compelled to write the open letter following statements by vested interests criticising the decision taken by Tata Motors to move out of Singur and claiming that it was hasty and politically motivated.

'I therefore feel compelled to address the people of West Bengal, to explain how our dream of contributing to the industrial revival of the state has been shattered by an environment of politically-motivated agitation and hostility that finally left us with no option but to withdraw,' he said.

Tata said his appeal Aug 22 for a more congenial environment only led to an escalation of hostilities through a dharna (sit-in led by Banerjee) on the highway in front of the plant.

'All of you will therefore appreciate that the final and painful decision to move the project out of West Bengal has not been a decision taken in haste, but a decision taken with great regret after a great deal of deliberation,' he said.

'We believe the responsibility for this would lie with the Trinamool Congress, which has created the hostile environment that had obliged the company to move the project form Singur,' Tata said.

Since its inception in May 2006, the project to roll out the Rs.100,000 ($2,250) car encountered strong resistance from the Trinamool-led farmers demanding return of a portion of the acquired land 'forcibly taken' from owners unwilling to part with their land.

Tata Motors has since relocated the plant to Sanand in Gujarat.

Buddha confident of Bengal's industrialisation

One battle lost, not the war: Buddha on Nano

Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS): Dubbing his state’s opposition parties as “irresponsible” for their actions that prompted Tata Motors to pull out from Singur, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Sunday exuded confidence that the state might have lost one battle, but not the war.

“Unfortunately, the state has a very irresponsible opposition. But I believe one battle is lost, but the war is not lost. We must fight,” Bhattacharjee said in his first public comment after Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata Friday announced the withdrawal of the Nano project that has thrown into uncertainty the state’s future on the industrial front.

Bhattacharjee, however, said the majority of the people were “right thinking” and were not happy over the small car project moving out of the state.

“Majority of the people in the state are right thinking. And they know what should be our future. They are not happy because just before the (Durga Puja) festival, Tata Motors has withdrawn their Nano project,” Bhattacharjee said.

“And we want to go about with our heads held high once again.”

But he conceded that the automobile major’s decision had sent a “serious message” about the state across the country.

“A serious message has gone all over India - what is happening in West Bengal?” he asked at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a technology-centric special economic zone (SEZ) here.

Referring to the Trinamool Congress-led opposition, whose sustained and often-violent agitation forced Tata Motors to wind up its plant in Singur, the chief minister said it had failed to understand the importance of industrialisation.

“Why is the opposition failing to understand the importance of industrialisation?” he asked.

Bhattacharjee reiterated that though West Bengal ranked best in the country in agriculture, the state’s economy needed industry for further growth.

“Our agricultural scenario is the best in the country. Agricultural growth rate is the highest in India. After our success in agriculture, we our trying to bring in industrialisation in the state”.

He said economy could not depend on agriculture only, and that the youth of the state wanted industry and business.

Bhattacharjee came out in support of globalisation, but said developing countries needed a level playing field.

“In this competitive world, globalisation is a must. You cannot stop it. The only point we are trying to make is that developing countries should get a level playing ground.”

“Without that globalisation is not possible, as it will be one-sided and the developed countries will benefit at the cost of developing countries,” he said.

The chief minister said the central government was doing its best to improve the country’s growth rate.

The chief minister Sunday laid the foundation stone of the Orion Techcity, a 155-acre commercial and integrated SEZ, to come up at Rajarhat, northeast of the city. It is expected to attract around $1.2 billion in investments, staggered over a 10-year period.

The first phase is slated to be completed by 2011.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, also present at the function, said India has set an export target of Rs.1,250 billion from SEZs this year. Earnings from SEZs stood at Rs.660 billion last year.

He said that altogether 250,000 jobs have been created in various SEZs.

Mukherjee and Japanese ambassador Hideaki Domichi also laid the foundation stone for a 25-acre ‘Japan village’ that will serve as a self-sufficient ‘Zen Paradise’.

Kolkata (PTI): Breaking his silence since the pull-out of the Nano project from Singur, West Bengal Chief Minister on Sunday said no right-thinking person of the state had been happy with the irresponsible behaviour of the Opposition, but maintained that industrialisation process will go ahead.

"No right-thinking people are happy with the withdrawal of the Nano project just ahead of the Durga Puja festival." However, Ratan Tata had said that he was not leaving forever and he would invest in the state in future, Bhattacharjee said.

"We have lost one battle, but the war is not lost. We must fight and overcome the obstacles for going ahead. We want to raise our head again," Bhattacharjee, who had taken a keen interest to bring the Nano project in the state, said after laying the foundation stone for Orion Techcity, a 155-acre integrated IT SEZ at Rajarhat here. The Chief Minister wondered why the Opposition failed to understand the need for industrialisation in the state.

"They give importance to agriculture. We also give importance to agriculture in which the state has been self-sufficient. But only agriculture will not help us for further progress, it needs industrialisation for total development," he said.

Bhattacharjee regretted the loss of job opportunities for the young people who hoped for a bright future.

Tata to move car plant from West Bengal

October 3rd, 2008 - 10:09 pm

Kolkata, Oct 3 (IANS): The inevitable has happened. Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata Friday announced that the company was taking its Nano small car project out of Communist-ruled West Bengal due to continuing political opposition.”This is a decision that we have taken with great deal of sadness,” Tata group chairman Ratan Tata told reporters here, after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

“We’ve taken this decision today because we’ve a timeline to meet and assurances to keep. We did not see any change on the horizon,” said the chairman of the $62 billion group, the largest in the country’s private sector.

He said he was feeling all the more sad in announcing the decision at a time when the state was gearing up to celebrate its most important festival, Durga Puja, over the weekend.

“It is an extremely sad decision, which has shattered many dreams. But it’s a great feeling at the same time because we are doing the right thing - because there is no other option,” he said.

He, however, did not divulge from where the group now intended to roll out Nano, even as Gujarat joined other states like Haryana, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in rolling out the red carpet to host the prestigious project for the world’s most inexpensive car priced at Rs.100,000 ($2,200).

Tata was also critical of Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress led the protests since the project was announced May 18, 2006 saying some 400 acres of the farmland given for the project was forcibly acquired.

The state government had acquired 997.11 acres of land for the project and its ancillary units. The project, into which the Tatas had already pumped in Rs.15 billion, was nearing completion at Singur, a 75-minute drive from here.

“Two years ago, I mentioned that if you put a gun to my head, either you pull the trigger, or you pull away the gun. I will not move my head. I think, Ms. Bannerjee has pulled the trigger,” he said.

“We were open to dialogue and as long as human approach was taken, but agitation and Ms. Bannerjee’s statement that people of Singur do not want you here did create a hostile environment.”

Tata said he sincerely believed that the land transaction was not only legal and transparent, but also that the compensation was adequate.

“The fact that the agitations happened is unfortunate,” he said, adding: “We believe we were caught in a political crossfire.”

Earlier, Tata, along with Tata Motors Managing director Ravi Kant, expressed their anguish at the heightened agitation and hostility by the opposition that raised concern over the security of their staff, contractors and vendors.

“Threats, intimidation and instances of assault and general obstruction in one form or the other have been the order of the day,” the company said in a statement.

Tata to move car plant from West Bengal

By Amy Kazmin in New Delhi
Published: October 3 2008 15:39

FINANCIAL TIMES

India’s Tata Motors on Friday said it was withdrawing its ground-breaking low-cost Nano car project from the state of West Bengal, after more than a month of violent protests by local farmers brought construction to a halt.

The decision by Ratan Tata – one of India’s most respected industrialists – to relocate the car factory comes as the greenfield plant was nearly 85 per cent complete, and as the group neared its self-imposed deadline of October for rolling out the car.

It comes after weeks of intensive negotiations between Tata, West Bengal’s Communist government and the state’s feisty opposition leader, and highlights the difficulties companies can face in acquiring land in India for industrial development.

The protests by the farmers – who claimed they had been forced to give up their land and had not received sufficient compensation – were stoked by West Bengal’s opposition leader, Mamata Banerjee, who has battled for years against the state’s elected Communist government.

“It is an extremely painful decision – a decision that shatters many dreams that many of us had, and a great disappointment to the people who have worked on the project on the ground,” a shattered-looking Mr Tata announced at a press conference. “But there is also a feeling that we are doing the right thing because there is no other option.”

The decision is also a severe blow to the state of West Bengal, whose authorities have been struggling to attract industrial investment and had hoped that the Nano project would serve as an anchor for a new automotive industry that would have generated thousands of jobs.

Kapil Sibal, India’s science and technology minister, lamented on Indian television that “politics has triumphed over development”.

The Nano has been billed as a car for the common man, which will initially be priced at Rs100,000 ($2,100). Tata Motors, one of India’s top vehicle makers, initially planned to produce 250,000 cars a year, but projected that demand could eventually rise to 1m vehicles a year.

Mr Tata said the company had not yet decided where it would relocate the project, but had received offers from numerous states, all keen for the economic boost the plant would bring.

Land for Pantnagar plant has come from govt: Tata Motors

NEW DELHI: Country's leading car maker Tata Motors on Saturday said that the Uttarakhand government had given its own 1,000 acre land to the company, on which it has already set up manufacturing facilities along with that of vendors. Reacting to reports that a group of farmers was planning agitation if more land is given to the company in case it sets up Nano car project, which is facing uncertainty in West Bengal, a Tata Motors spokesperson said : "All our land has come from the government and the plant exist on the government land." A group of farmers in Uttarakhand's Pantnagar area, under the banner of 'Kisan Kisani Abhiyan', had taken up cudgels against the state government's purported plan to allot more land to the company with its leader Hanif Gandhi threatening an agitation. The government had agreed to offer 1,100 acre of land in the area, of which the company has already set up a mother plant and vendor park on 1,000 acres. The government is yet to give the rest 100 acre for setting up residential colonies, the spokesperson said. He said that since no part of the land for the existing facilities, from where its rolling out commercial vehicle Ace, has come from the farmers and hence there is no ground for any agitation. On whether the company had decided to shift the Nano project from West Bengal to Uttarakhand, he said that the company had earlier said in a statement that it could explore options at other existing facilities.

No proposal from Tata for Nano roll out so far: Uttarakhand CM

28 Sep, 2008, 1206 hrs IST, PTI

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri has said the government has not yet received any proposal from the Tatas to roll out Nano from the state. The CM's statement comes in the wake of speculation that the company might shift production of the world's cheapest car to the state following the stalemate in Singur. If the company proposes for to roll out the Nano from Uttarakhand, the state government would provide necessary facilities, Khanduri said. Tata Motors officials who visited the state on September 25 to settle issues related to its Pantnagar plant, told the government the company had not yet taken any decision on Nano production from there. Earlier, Tata Motors, reacting to reports that a group of farmers was planning agitation if more land is given to the company in case it sets up Nano car project, said : "All our land has come from the government and the plant exists on the government land." A group of farmers in Uttarakhand's Pantnagar area, under the banner of 'Kisan Kisani Abhiyan', had taken up cudgels against the state government's purported plan to allot more land to the company with its leader Hanif Gandhi threatening an agitation. The government had agreed to offer 1,100 acre of land in the area, of which the company has already set up a mother plant and vendor park on 1,000 acres. The state has already allotted 56 acres of the 100 acres additional land sought by Tata for residential purposes. On whether the company had decided to shift the Nano project from West Bengal to Uttarakhand, he said that the company had earlier said in a statement that it could explore options at other existing facilities.

Don't leave West Bengal: Buddha urges Tata

NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has written to Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata urging him not to shift the Nano car project from Singur. The chief minister in his letter to Ratan Tata said no more disruptions will occur. “We assure you of police protection,” he said.

The letter is seen as the last-ditch effort by Buddhadeb to salvage the Nano car project. The West Bengal government is awaiting Ratan Tata’s response. West Bengal Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said the state government was trying its best to retain the Nano project in Singur. The letter by the chief minister was sent after yesterday’s decision at the state cabinet meet to appeal to both the Tatas to implement the project here as well as to the opposition to cooperate in the interest of the state.

On Thursday, Trinamool Congress said it was willing for further talks on Singur issue if Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi takes an initiative for this. "We had responded to the invitation for talks on Singur in the past. The Governor is the constitutional head. We will go every time he calls us," Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee told a public meeting here. Without responding to the state cabinet's appeal for cooperation, she said "if the government really wants the Tata Motors unit to come up at Singur, why did it not operationalise the (September 7) agreement? The government took recourse to a canard against us, although we are for both industry and agriculture". Trinamool Congress did not ask the Tata Motors to leave Singur, she said. "Let both agriculture and industry smile." She said the state government and CPM were claiming that the September 7 agreement was a 'declaration' and not an accord. "They are cheating us. They have also insulted the Governor by violating the agreement", she charged. Reading out the copy of 'agreement', she said that her party was ready for a 'land-based solution'. She also said the industry should purchase land and added "why should land be acquired forcefully?"

Meanwhile truckloads of material have started rolling out of the Singur Nano factory, a sign that Tata Motors is on an exit route from West Bengal. There has, however, been no formal communication from the company so far.

According to reports, Tata engineers had dismantled dies and other "key fixtures unique to the Nano" from Singur and started moving them to an undisclosed location a few days back. Pending a final decision, the company could either roll out its first Nano from its Pantnagar or its Pune facility. The Rs 1 lakh car was scheduled to hit the road in October and Tata wants to stick to that deadline. But as an official said, the situation in Singur "was not conducive to work". It is believed that the Tatas are likely to announce their final decision on the matter by this weekend.

26 Sep 2008,

1401 hrs IST,

AGENCIES

ATTACK ON SINGUR FACTORY GUARDS STRONGLY CONDEMNED

KOLKATA(INN), 23 SEPTEMBER: That Trinamul Congress goondas sneaked inside the Singur motor vehicles factory and severely beat up two security guards in the dark of the night of 22 September 2008 (both had to be removed for treatment to a hospital) has been condemned strongly by the Bengal Left Front. Biman Basu has called the assault ‘craven and conspiratorial.’

LF GOVT’S ROLE

Bimanda has clearly come out with an assertion that unhesitatingly points to a larger and wily scheme afloat to sabotage the sincere efforts of the Bengal Left Front government to ensure the re-commencement of the working of the Singur motor vehicles factory. A special package has already been announced for the people of Singur by way of a sustainable financial and economic rehabilitation. The package works out to the interests of all concerned – the landowners, the peasants, the share-croppers, and the agricultural labourers.

Bimanda is of the firm view that while there a determination in the drive of the Bengal LF government to maintain and secure the interest of both agriculture and of agriculturists, the effort is faced with a rejection of the package on irrational grounds by the Trinamul Congress and its cohorts for the simple reason that they would like to see the Singur project scuttled.

ROLE OF THE TRINAMULIS

The Trinamul Congress had earlier during their so-called dharna and Satyagraha, threatened the employees of the factory with dire consequences. The entrepreneurs chose to close the factory down pro tem. The fresh assaults are clear indicators of the design the Trinamul Congress and its gangsters have in mind in terms of permanently closing down the factory, and at the same time to terrorise the people of Singur.

Bimanda further said that while in public the Trinamul Congress ‘has gone on record to say that they are engaged in organising a peaceful Satyagraha,’ in practice, the attacks earlier and right now would simply prove if nothing else then the discordance of the Trinamul Congress with the process of development of Bengal. They do not want that there would an increase in employment through a process of pro-people industrialisation. They would not care to see a secure future for the generations to come in Bengal.

BENGAL LF’S APPEAL

The Bengal Left Front has appealed to the people of the state to come forward and to foil the conspiracy that is designated to harm Bengal’s interests. The LF also asks of the mass of the people to organise unified protests against all acts of commission and mischief like the latest instance of sneak attack.

Bimanda believes that ‘at this point of time it devolves on the people of Singur to decide whether there will be a motor vehicles project at Singur, or not.’ The LF in the meanwhile has called upon the state LF government to take all necessary steps to keep the law-and-order situation intact at Singur as elsewhere in Bengal, to maintain a peaceful setting, and to ensure that work resumes at the motor vehicles factory at Singur.

B. PRASANT

Tata offered alternative site for Nano plant

India's Tata Motors offered new site for Nano car plant

AFP, 18th September,2008,1 hour ago(9-40pm)

MUMBAI (AFP) — Tata Motors said Thursday it has been offered another site in India for its factory to mass produce the world's cheapest car after protests over land dogged another location.

Company officials met with the chief minister of the southern hi-tech state of Karnataka and were offered 1,000 acres (400 hectares) "with all facilities" to manufacture the Nano, a Tata official told AFP.

"We are obviously happy," the Tata spokesperson said, but added no decision had been made on whether the auto giant would abandon its nearly-completed plant in West Bengal state.

Tata has poured 350 million dollars into the West Bengal plant, but it cannot complete the project and begin production due to violent protests by the state opposition party and farmers who say their land was stolen.

Efforts to resolve the stand-off have so far failed, with protesters rejecting a government rehabilitation package and an offer to return some of the land.

The Tata official said 13 other Indian states were also offering land for the factory.

Tata Motors had said it hoped to launch the Nano in October in time for the big-spending Hindu festival season. The company wants to sell the car for 100,000 rupees (2,150 dollars).

Shifting the plant would delay any mass rollout for months.



India's Tata says state offers home for cheap car

Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:35am EDT, REUTERS
(Adds quotes)
By Tamajit Pain

KOLKATA, India, Sept 18 (Reuters) - India's Tata Motors said on Thursday the southern state of Karnataka had offered land for a production plant for its cheap Nano car after the firm suspended work in West Bengal due to violent protests.

The company planned to roll out the 100,000-rupee ($2,380) Nano from communist-run West Bengal from October, but farmers angry over losing their land and supported by opposition politicians forced work to be halted.

"Karnataka has offered 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land and incentives for setting up the Nano plant in the state," a Tata Motors spokeswoman said after Ravi Kant, the firm's managing director, had met the state's chief minister.

Kant later told TV channels the company was considering its options on moving the plant out of Singur, an hour's drive from West Bengal capital Kolkata.

"In case we were thinking of relocating the plant from Singur he (chief minister) would give all necessary support and assistance and incentives to make it happen.

"We are watching the situation and actively looking at alternatives."

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa told reporters he was hopeful the Nano factory would be relocated to his state.

Tata Motors had said it would look for alternative locations for a plant for the Nano, dubbed the world's cheapest car, after calling a halt to work in West Bengal.

Farmers in Singur, where Tata Motors was building its factory, say they were forced off their land without adequate compensation.Some said their consent was not sought and land was seized by authorities.

They want their land returned and have been backed by the local Trinamool Congress party, which has been spearheading the protests.

But Tata Motors and state government officials said land where the factory was being set up could not be handed back to the farmers, and instead offered to raise the compensation by 50 percent.

The Trinamool Congress rejected the offer, threatening more protests.

The dispute reflects a larger standoff between industry in India and farmers unwilling to part with land in a country where two-thirds of the billion-plus population depend on agriculture.

(Writing by Bappa Majumdar; Editing by Mark Williams and Sanjeev Miglani)

Karnataka offers 1,000 acres for Nano plant

Indo-Asian News Service, September 18, 2008

The Karnataka government on Thursday offered 1,000 acres of land to Tatas if they plan to shift the Nano car project from troubled Singur in West Bengal.

Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa told Tata Motors managing director G Ravi Kant that the goverment would also provide several other facilities for the small car project.

"We have offered the Tatas 1,000 acres and promised other facilities," Yeddyurappa told reporters after his meeting with Kant.

The land will be offered in the north Karnataka district of Dharwad where Tatas have an equipment manufacturing facility.

Kant said: "We have not taken any decision (on relocating from Singur). We will consult our chairman Ratan Tata."

Tata Motors have suspended operations at its Singur factory since September 2 apprehending danger to its employees after Trinamool Congress-led protests against alleged "forcible" acquisition of farmland for the project.

Bajaj does a flip-flop, now endorses Tata

KOLKATA: Pro-Mamata on Sunday. Pro-Tata on Monday. That's how Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj reacted to the fast-paced developments on the Singur front.

A day after endorsing Mamata Banerjee's Singur agitation as a fight for farmers' rights, the straight-talking Bajaj on Monday appeared to back Tata Motors' contention that relocation of key vendors from the project site could affect the viability of an automobile venture. "It is a norm in the automobile industry that tier-I vendors should be as nearby as possible to the main unit for keeping freight, logistics and operational costs low," Bajaj told TOI from Pune. "In Bajaj Auto's own case, when we took land at Chakhan (Maharashtra) and Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), it included that (land) which would be used by our main suppliers," he added.

Incidentally, land allotted to Honda Siel Cars India Ltd for its new manufacturing facility in Rajasthan includes contiguous space earmarked for key vendors. Bajaj — whose two-wheelers may face competition from Tata Motors' Nano - dismissed speculation that he had a role to play in the Singur agitation. "I am fed up of hearing these things. Ratan (Tata) is a dear friend of mine. And anyone who knows me, is aware that I don't pay a dime to anybody. Why should I pay anything to Mamata?" he said.

However, Bajaj, a former CII president, said the Singur episode held out a message for land acquisitions being made for industry anywhere in India. "Industry should now learn the lesson that in future, irrespective of whether the land has been acquired by government, they should make sure that the original landowner had sold the plot willingly," he said.

Bajaj's views were echoed by another old hand in the automobile business, Wartsila India chairman Subodh Bhargava.

9 Sep 2008, 0150 hrs IST,

Sumali Moitra,

TIMES OF INDIA

Start operations in Singur, Bengal govt urges Tatas

KOLKATA- West Bengal government has asked Tata Motors to start operations at its small car manufacturing unit and reassured that no land would be taken out of the company's main plant in Singur or from areas earmarked for its ancillary units for giving to landlosers.

"We have assured the Tatas again that no land will be taken out of the project area and the state government wants Nano car to roll out from Singur," state Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said in an interview to a private TV channel. To a question Sen said, the government had never agreed to the opposition Trinamool Congress's demand made during the bilateral talks at Raj Bhavan on Sunday that it should part with the Tata small car project land to the land losers. "We have agreed to explore the possibility of identifying and locating as much land available in the area for giving it to those affected by the land acquisition," he said adding there was a patch of land under the custody of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation.

Expressing hope that opposition parties would appreciate the "gravity of the situation" if the Tatas pulled out of the project in view of the disruption, Sen said in the interview "I appeal to all to facilitate the Tatas to restart the operations at the Singur plant peacefully and smoothly." Responding to the anxiety expressed by the Tatas about the reported parting of land in the project area as claimed by the opposition after Sunday's talks, he exhorted the opposition not to campaign in a way which would prevent the Tatas from restarting work. Sen said the government has assured Tata Motors that land in the project would be kept intact and the company would have no difficulty in restarting work.

Asked about the possibility of Tata shifting to Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, the Minister said it would be 'utterly unfortunate' for West Bengal. "We strongly believe that congenial atmosphere will prevail in the Singur project area and the opposition will fully cooperate with the government and the Tatas in ensuring that the Nano car roll out from West Bengal becomes a reality." West Bengal government was doing its best to pave the way for restart of the plant operations, he said.

Sen's comments came in response to the concern expressed by Tata Motors Managing Director Ravi Kant about the opposition's claims that part of the project land would be taken as per the understanding reached at in Sunday's meeting chaired by Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi. Kant had sought a clarification from the state government about the agreement.

The state government had yesterday said there would not be any change in the Tata Motors' Singur plant, nor any relocation of the vendors' park. "There will not be any change in the Tata project, nor any relocation of vendors' park," Sen had told reporters in the presence of Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee at the state secretariat. Sen had said the Nano plant and vendor's park are an integrated project "and it is a very important issue".

TIMES OF INDIA

9 Sep 2008, 1405 hrs IST,PTI

Agreement between Tata Motors Ltd., Government of West Bengal and WBIDC

1. Tata Motors Ltd. (TML) was intending to set up a manufacturing Plant for
Automobile Products including “Tata Small Car” to manufacture 250,000 cars
per annum on 2 shift basis which could be expanded to 350,000 on 3 shift basis.
In addition, it would have several Vendors and act as a mother plant for many
aggregates to tune of 500,000 cars. In this connection, TML was considering
locating the plant in the States of Uttarakhand/ Himachal Pradesh in view of the
fiscal incentive package for the rapid industrialization being made available by
the Govt. of India to new Industries in these States which has been attracting a
large number of industries to these States.

The incentive package in Uttarakhand/Himachal Pradesh consists of:-

(a) 100% exemption from Excise Duty for 10 years.
(b) 100% exemption from Corporate Income Tax for first 5 years and 30%
exemption from Corporate Income Tax for next 5 years.



2. The Government of West Bengal (GoWB) is keen to take appropriate steps
for rapid industrialization in West Bengal and in this connection wanted to
attract some major Automobile Projects to the State. The Government of
West Bengal approached TML to persuade them to locate an Automobile
Project including the project to manufacture “Tata Small Car” in West
Bengal. TML showed interest in locating the plant in West Bengal, provided
the State gave Fiscal incentive equivalent to the value of total incentives it
would have received by locating the plant in Uttarakhand / Himachal Pradesh.
GoWB offered to match the financial incentives in equivalent terms and
invited TML to set up the Small Car plant in West Bengal entailing
investment of over Rs. 1500 crores by TML. In addition, Vendors supporting
the project are likely to make further investment of over Rs. 500 crores.


3. Since then numerous discussions have been held and based on this
understanding, GoWB proceeded with identification of various lands for this
mega project. Land of approximately 1000 acres chosen in P. S. Singur of
District Hooghly was finalized with TML. West Bengal Industrial
Development Corporation Ltd. (WBIDC) commenced the process of
acquisition of this land. The process was completed with the Declaration of
Award under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, and thereafter WBIDC
has obtained mutation of ownership in its name in the Record-of-Rights, and
conversion of usage of the land from agriculture to factory.


4. WBIDC is in possession of 997.11 acres of land, which has been acquired
under the Land Acquisition Act. Out of this, an area admeasuring 645.67
acres will be leased to TML for setting up the Automobile Project including
the small car plant, while an area admeasuring 290 acres will be leased to the
vendors to this Automobile Project approved by TML (ancillary and
component manufacturing units), 14.33 acres will be handed over by WBIDC
to WBSEB only for construction of 220/132/33 KV substation and the
balance admeasuring 47.11 acres will be used by WBIDC for rehabilitation
activities for the needy families amongst the Project affected persons.



5. The terms of lease to TML for the 645.67 acres of land for the mother plant
are described below. In addition, WBIDC will provide on lease 290 acres of
land to the Vendors selected and approved by TML on payment of Premium
equal to the actual cost of acquisition plus incidentals, to be calculated on the
basis of the total acquisition cost and other incidental expenses expended by
WBIDC or any of its subsidiaries (duly certified by its auditor) averaged over
the total land acquired. The lease rental payable per year per acre by the
vendors will be Rs. 8000/- per acre for the first 45 (forty five) years and
Rs. 16000/- per acre for the next 45 (forty five) years. The initial lease tenure
will be 90 years. On expiry of 90 years, the lease terms will be fixed on
mutually agreed terms at that point of time.


6. The parties also discussed mutually to finalise the package of incentives
required in order to enable GoWB to fulfill its commitment to match in
equivalent financial terms the fiscal incentive foregone by TML in
Uttarakhand. The Net Present Value (NPV) computation of benefits that the
project would have received in Uttarakhand is attached in Annexure I which
is agreed to by all the parties. Sample computation of benefits in West Bengal
with stated assumptions is given in Annexure II which is accepted by all
parties as agreed basis of computation. The NPV is calculated @ 11%.



7. Accordingly, it is finally agreed, in supersession of all previous decisions and
agreements in this regard, that for this mega project, the fiscal incentives
under Industrial Promotion Assistance in terms of the West Bengal Incentive
Scheme (WBIS 2004), assistance towards land cost and interest subsidy in the
form of a loan against a quantum of the term loan to be taken by TML for this
project will be offered by GoWB as follows:-

(a) WBIDC will provide Industrial Promotion Assistance in the form of a
Loan to TML at 0.1% interest per annum for amounts equal to gross VAT
and CST received by GoWB in each of the previous years ended 31st
March on sale of “Tata Small Car” from the date of commencement of
sales of the small car. This benefit will continue till the balance amount of
the Uttarakhand benefit (after deducting the amount as stated in para 7b
and 7c below) is reached on net present value basis, after which it shall be
discontinued. The loan with interest will be repayable in annual
installments starting from 31st year of commencement of sale from the
plant. The loan availed in the first year will be repaid in the 31st year and
the loan availed in the 2nd year will be repaid in the 32nd year and so on.
WBIDC will ensure that the loan under this head is paid within 60 days of
the close of the previous year (on 31st March) failing which WBIDC will
be liable to compensate TML for the financial inconvenience caused @
1.5 times the bank rate prevailing at the time on the amount due for the
period of such delay.

TML & GoWB will make best efforts to maximize sale of products from
the “Small Car Plant” in the State of West Bengal.


(b) WBIDC will provide 645.67 acres of Land to Tata Motors Ltd on a 90
year lease, on an annual lease rental of Rs. 1 crore per year for first 5
years with an increase @ 25% after every 5 years till 30 years. On expiry
of 30 years, the lease rental will be fixed at Rs. 5 crores per year, with an
increase @ 30% after every 10 years till the 60th year. On the expiry of 60
years, the lease rental will be fixed at Rs. 20 crores per year, which will
remain unchanged till the 90th year. On expiry of 90 years the lease terms
will be fixed on mutually agreed terms at that point of time. The benefit
on account of land would be calculated as the total land area leased out to
TML multiplied by the cost of acquisition calculated in the manner as
provided in para 5 less NPV of rent payable during 60 years.



(c) The West Bengal Govt. will provide to TML a loan of Rs. 200 crores
bearing @ 1% interest per year repayable in 5 equal annual installments
starting from the 21st year from the date of disbursement of loan. This
loan will be disbursed within 60 days of signing of this Agreement.

(d) The West Bengal Government will provide Electricity for the project at
Rs. 3/- per KWH. In case of more than Rs. 0.25 per KWH increase in
tariff in every block of five years, the Government will provide relief
through additional compensation to neutralize such additional increase.


8. It is also agreed that the computation of the comparison of benefits in
Annexure I and II will be changed if there are any changes in the rates of
excise duty and corporate income tax during the next 10 years.

http://www.wbidc.com/

Rehabilitation measures for the Project Affected Persons

Along with the issue of industrial land use, the issue regarding

compensation and rehabilitation of the PAPs is relevant.

Large tracts of contiguous land are required for
setting up industries thereby necessitating land acquisition.

The State Government has attempted to locate land for

industry with a focus to minimizing displacement of
families from their homestead land. In addition to the availability of
uncultivable/barren land, the location of industries is also

determined by factors such as connectivity, availability

of water and power. Due to land constraint in the State
and unavailability of appropriate industrial infrastructure

in all districts, agricultural land has been used for industrial

purpose in some cases. Appropriate compensation
towards land and provision of alternate livelihood to the

PAPs has been ensured in
such cases.

The issues pertaining to rehabilitation shows variation based

on the location,nature and quantum of land involved in the

project. There is sufficient scope of continuously evolving

and improving the rehabilitation strategy with field experience,
felt needs and exchange of ideas, the underlying objective being

the overall socioeconomic development of the area, provision

of alternative livelihood and an improvement in the quality of

the living of the PAPs. Successful implementation of
rehabilitation programmes is critical to accelerate and sustain

industrial growth in West Bengal and the object is therefore

to create a model of inclusive development in
consultation with the academicians, industry, government

and all stakeholders.

Some key features of rehabilitation for PAPs

in industrial projects

The intent of State Government is to create a favourable

environment so that the PAPs can participate in the

growth process and avail of the employment opportunities
created through industrialization. Some of the components

of the rehabilitation initiatives that have been taken up by

the State Government are common to all large
projects which have been finalized or are in the pipeline.

It has been ensured that the clause for provision for vocational

training, alternate livelihood and access to basic
amenities by the concerned industry is built into the agreement

itself. The key features of the rehabilitation measures include

inter alia payment of appropriate compensation towards

land to land losers and bargadars, capacity
building to assist the PAPs to avail of opportunities created

through industrialization thereby providing alternate livelihood

and the overall development of the area through community

development initiatives.

• Compensation towards land/re-settlement

􀂾 Payment of compensation at the higher side of the prevailing market rate
depending upon the character of land with 30% solatium and interest over and
above the land value

􀂾 Payment to bargadars at the rate of 25% of the total compensation paid to the
owner of the land, which is more than the stipulated six times the annual
value of the crops as per the LA Act, 1894

􀂾 Payment of 25% of the total compensation to the non-recorded bargadars after
enquiry

􀂾 Resettlement of families whose homestead land has been identified for
acquisition through the construction of dwelling houses in close proximity of
original place of residence in accordance with G.O no.1706-LA-3M-07/06
dated 6th June,2006 of the Land & Land Reforms Department, Govt. of West
Bengal

􀂾 Additional 10% incentive to willing landowners

• Capacity building of PAPs

􀂾 Dissemination of information regarding livelihood opportunities likely to be
created with operationalisation of the concerned industry

􀂾 Necessary counseling to assist them to transit from agricultural occupation to
non-agricultural occupations and participate in the growth process

􀂾 Identify the alternate livelihood and non-agricultural activities

􀂾 Provide adequate training for equipping the PAPs to avail of the employment
opportunities

􀂾 Facilitate self employment through training, providing credit linkage and
construction of commercial stalls

􀂾 Facilitate Self Help Groups for availing opportunities arising from outsourcing
of some activities by concerned industries with special focus on women.

• Community Development initiatives in the Project Affected Area

􀂾 Improve and upgrade road connectivity

􀂾 Provide access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities

􀂾 Provide access to health facilities

􀂾 Provide access to education

Rehabilitation initiatives taken/proposed to be

taken in large projects in West Bengal

• Integrated Iron & Steel Plants-some key features

A large number of investors have evinced interest in setting up steel plants in the
State. The Government of West Bengal has entered or is the process of entering into
an agreement with them. Some of the key projects are the Jindal Steel and Shyam
Steel in Paschim Medinipur district, Bhushan Steel, Videocon and Abhijeet Steel in
Burdwan district, the Jai Balaji Group, Adhunik Steel and Shyam Steel in Purulia
district. In its agreement with all the Steel companies, the State Government has built
in the clause that the industry shall at its cost provide a rehabilitation, resettlement or
suitable employment package for the land losers whose land is to be acquired or
purchased for the Project and other Project Affected Persons. This will include setting
up new facilities and infrastructure and strengthening existing facilities and
infrastructure in relation to vocational training, education, self employment schemes
for the women, self help groups and social welfare measures such as healthcare,
crèches, drinking water sources and sanitation for PAPs. The rehabilitation and
resettlement package has to be commenced and implemented along with the
construction of the Steel Plants. The industry shall abide by and implement the
resettlement and rehabilitation package in consultation with the Government of West
Bengal. The industry may also utilise the services of the local Employment Exchange
for employment. The industry shall in consultation with GOWB, finalise and
announce the said package within a period of 6 (six) months from the identification of
the Project Land or 1 (one) year from the date of signing the agreement, whichever is
earlier.

• New Kolkata International Development (NKID)

-some key features

􀂾 Construction of Commercial Blocks with shops/stalls adjacent to roads for
allotment to land losers

􀂾 Four Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) for providing vocational training
free of cost to 5000 students/year. Maintenance and operation of the VTCs for
5 years by the Developer

􀂾 Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Industrial Estates in
different locations adjoining the road for allotment to medium and small scale
industries.

• Tata Small Car Factory, Singur

A Camp Office of WBIDC at Singur was set up in October 2006 with a view to
registering the names of the PAPs i.e., land losers and bargadars whose land had been
acquired for the project and landless agricultural labourers. Initially, WBIDC took the
initiative of capacity building of the PAPs by providing them appropriate training in
order to develop or upgrade the skills of the affected persons for availing of the job
opportunities likely to be created both locally as well as outside the project area
through forward and backward linkages. The rehabilitation strategy was therefore
multi pronged and built upon the premise that the skills of the PAPs may be
developed/upgraded in the best available technical institutions so as to enable them to
(i) avail of the local job opportunities that are likely to be created with the setting up
of TML plant and (ii) certified training may be provided to persons in areas with high
job potential to make them capable of availing job opportunities in any place. In the
process, a number of training institutions have been identified to impart suitable
training to the registered land losers/land less persons who were selected on the basis
of their suitability (aptitude, age, sex, educational qualification) to particular
categories of training.

Registration of PAPs as on 21.09.07

1. Total registered land-losers

Total registered landless persons
Total:
2338
586
2924

2. Persons covered under various Training Programmes

a) Completed
b) Ongoing(including18 trainees at TML, Jamshedpur)
c) Planned
Total :
448
356
805
1609

Technical Training:

Anticipating a significant demand of technically trained personnel likely to arise with
the operationalisation of the TML plant at Singur, 176 persons were nominated by
WBIDC for undergoing a four months’ course at RKM Shilpa Mandir, Belur Math in
November, 2006.In order to provide quality modular training in relevant trades to
meet the requirements of the auto industry, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was entered into between the Department of Technical Education and Training
(DTET), Government of West Bengal, WBIDC and TML on 25th April,2007 for
imparting class room training as per syllabus prepared by the Directorate of Industrial
Training in consultation with TML and approved by the State Certificate for
Vocational Training, West Bengal. A total of 279 trainees including 169 trainees
previously trained in RKM Shilpa Mandir were selected amongst the PAPs for
undergoing training at Ramkrishna Mission Shilpa Mandir, Howrah, Howrah homes
and Hooghly ITI. It was also agreed by the DTET that a short version of the course
would be designed for the persons who have already undergone the training in Belur
Math.

After successful completion of the training in the ITIs, the students will be
awarded the State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) Certificate and thereafter
undergo factory training in the TML plant at Singur for 18 months, on completion of
which they would be eligible for the award of the National Council for Vocational
Training (NCVT) Certificate. It is expected that after successful completion of the
training, the students will be absorbed in the mother plant or in the ancillary units.
Another MoU on similar lines as the one signed on 24th April, 2007 was
signed between TML and WBIDC for providing training to 59 persons at ATI
Dasnagar (Govt. of India organization) on 14th May,2007. A third MoU was signed on
the 18th of September, 2007 between DTET, WBIDC and TML for training 101
persons from land loser families.

Other Trainings:

In addition to technical training, training was imparted in catering, tailoring, masonry,
computer hardware/MIS/call center and apparel manufacturing. The women trained in
catering are now operating the kitchen at Singur and providing cooked meals to the
project officials. The women trained by Singer in tailoring have since received orders
from TML for uniforms. All persons trained jointly by CII and WBIDC in masonry
are working on site. Due to practical problems, the PAPs have shown little interest to
travel to Kolkata/other places for work and therefore only a small number of persons
trained by NIIT in Hardware, MIS and Call Center/BPO and by Apparel Training
Development Centre in apparel manufacturing have been employed.

Community Development initiatives

A comprehensive drainage scheme has been implemented in Singur with the reexcavation
of Julkia river and construction of drainage infrastructure around the
project area to reduce water logging in the surrounding areas. In order to provide
access to villages surrounding the project area, two by-pass roads have been
constructed. In order to provide access to clean drinking water, 87 tubewells were resunk
and 100 tubewell platforms constructed in the project affected areas across 3
Gram Panchayats.97 ladies bathrooms have been constructed in the project affected
area. Repairing , renovation and reconstruction works were carried out in the school
building of Beraberi Suryanarayan Memorial High School.

• Kolkata Leather Complex

􀂾 1 acre of land has been earmarked for development of a market and the
construction of market stalls for land losers has since commenced

􀂾 Construction of a resettlement colony for the displaced families of the
Bederhait village and dwelling units provided free of cost along with related
facilities such as water, electricity, sewerage and drainage etc.

􀂾 3 training programmes are scheduled to be organized for the project affected
persons:

(i) Training for leather goods by the Indian Leather Product
Association(ILPA)
(ii) Training in tanning methods organized by Calcutta Leather Complex
Tanneries Association (CLTA) with the support of Council of leather
Exports (CLE) and ASSOMAC, Italy
(iii) Training on a variety of trades by the CII to increase employability of the
land losers

SOURCE: www.wbidc.com

Tata Motors “distressed” ; suspension of work will continue

Official Press Statement

Tata Motors Ltd. is distressed at the limited clarity on the outcome of the discussions between the West Bengal State Government and the representatives of the agitators in Singur. In view of the same, Tata Motors is obliged to continue the suspension of construction and commissioning work at the Nano Plant.We will review our stated position only if we are satisfied that the viability of the project is not being impinged, the integral nature of the mother plant and our ancillary units are being maintained and all stakeholders are committed to develop a long term congenial environment for smooth operations of the plant in Singur.

Spokesperson,

Tata Motors Ltd.

September 8, 2008

Issued by:Debasis Ray

Head (Corporate Communications)

Phone: 0091 22 66657209

Email: debasis.ray@tatamotors.com

http://www.tatamotors.com/

Suresh Rangarajan

Mobile: 098216 11560

Email: suresh@vccpl.com

Mahasweta Sen

Mobile: 098310 39900/99038 39900

Mahasweta@vccpl.com

Vaishnavi Corporate Communications

NOW RAHUL BAJAJ BACKS MAMATA! WHY?????

Bajaj backs Mamata

New Delhi, Sept. 7 (PTI): Rahul Bajaj, who is planning to launch a small car like the Nano, came out in strong support of Mamata Banerjee tonight, saying she was “not playing politics” over Singur but “fighting for farmers”.

On today’s resolution at Raj Bhavan, the Bajaj Auto chairman told CNN-IBN: “The agreement is subject to scrutiny of details worked out between the three parties, i.e., the vendors, Mamata and the West Bengal government.”

He added: “I am not sure what Tata Motors says on that but I do not believe that the West Bengal government would have given any commitment without first consulting Tata Motors. I hope it’s October October October and Singur Singur Singur for Tatas’ Nano.”

Two years ago, he said, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government had not taken the issue “seriously”.

“Why are the ancillary units being moved now? Who was at fault? There was insensitivity on the part of the West Bengal government... then maybe they were at fault. I am not saying if the Tatas are at fault or not. There was a problem and it was buried for too long a duration,” he said.

THE TELEGRAPH,

Issue Date: Monday , September 8 , 2008

Mamata fought for farmers: Rahul Bajaj
8 Sep 2008, 0038 hrs IST,PTI

NEW DELHI: Leading industrialist Rahul Bajaj on Sunday night came out in strong support of Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, saying she was "not playing politics over the Singur issue" and was "fighting for farmers". Reacting to resolution of Singur impasse, the Bajaj Industry Chairman said, "the agreement is subject to scrutiny of details worked out between the three parties, that is the vendors, Mamata and the West Bengal government." Asked about his opinion on how he considered the decision, Bajaj said, "I am not sure what Tata Motors says on that but I do not believe that the West Bengal government would have given any commitment without first consulting Tata Motors. I hope its October and Singur for Tata's Nano." Bajaj went on say that two-years back the West Bengal government did not take the issue raised by Mamata Bannerjee "seriously". He stated that the fact that ancillary units are having to be moved cited "insensitivity on part of the West Bengal government." "Why are the ancillary units being moved now? Who was at fault? There was insensitivity on the part of the West Bengal government...then maybe they were at fault. I am not saying if the Tata's are at fault or not. There was a problem and it was buried for too long a duration," he said. Asked if the Tata's Nano project got caught in a political turf war, Bajaj responded, "Mamataji's party was trying to help poor farmers and calling it politics will be unfair. Maybe from one seat in the Parliament she wants 10-20 seats, to that extent politics come into the picture...it is not necessarily bad. I do not want to play any blame game."

TIMES OF INDIA,

8TH SEPETMBER,2008

Brand Bengal stands to lose Rs 80,000 cr

KOLKATA: If the Tatas go, they will take with them almost everything that matters to Brand Bengal: image and the big bucks. The first entity doesn’t carry a price tag but the second one does: a whopping Rs 80,000 crore in investments. The immediate loss will be over Rs 5,000 crore, including the investments on the ancillary units in Singur. The list would also include tier-II vendors, who will have no reason to be here once Ratan Tata moves out.

What’s more, the Tata brands like Tata Realty Infrastructure, Tata Metaliks and Maithon Power Limited might also take flight, amounting to a loss of at least Rs 10,000 crore. Besides, there are other big-time investors who are already jittery. Bharat Forge, which had decided to invest big time in Bengal largely because of the Nano plant in Singur, is now in two minds. The company would have brought in Rs 6,500 crore. This top-of-the-line forging company had signed an MoU with the government earlier this year. Ever since trouble erupted in Singur, their response to the state industries department is: We’ll get back.

Brand Bengal had attracted investment announcements of Rs 1,27,302 crore since the third quarter of the last financial year. But this target is now a distant dream. In case of a Tata pullout, there will be a question mark on the investment from nonferrous metal major Vedanta Group. That will be another Rs 16,000 crore gone. Then, there are steel majors who would have implemented their projects this year, but are apprehensive now. All these steel majors, including Adhunik (Rs 5,000 crore), Shyam Steel (Rs 8,000 crore), Jay Balaji (Rs 16,500 crore), Bhushan Steel (Rs 4,000 crore), Abhijit Group (Rs 8,000 crore) may not be all that keen to invest. ‘‘None of these steel majors will stay on, once the Tatas go,’’ an industries department official said. ‘‘These investments had come after sheer hard work. We had also roped in other automobile majors. Two months ago, they were ready to start work. Now, they are saying they would rather wait and watch,’’ he said.

4 Sep 2008, 1010 hrs IST,

TIMES NEWS NETWORK.

Infosys Chief Narayana Murthy speaks out for Tata Nano

THE CORPORATE honchos of India, the men who have written some of the greatest success stories in India are all coming forward in a combined effort to express their solidarity opposed to what is happening at Singur at the Tata Nano plant. Narayana Murthy on Sunday (August 31) went on to say that the gridlock at Singur over Tata’s Nano plant is likely to be a major hurdle in the growth of the Indian economy. Murthy went on to add, What has happened in Singur is unfortunate for West Bengal, for India and for all progressive Indians.” Murthy has always been known to speak his mind over social and economic issues.

Earlier, during the anti reservation stirs all over the country, he had come out in defense of the anti reservation activists by saying, “India is perhaps the only country in the world where people fight to be called backward.” At this instance too, he has come out in support of the Tatas, for he feels that it will be a great blot to India’s growth if the Tata Nano project at Singur is halted.He also believed that this event would result in a dearth of jobs for youngsters in the state of West Bengal and it will deter growth in the state. He also said, “This event will unleash fear and uncertainty in the minds of all investors – Indian and foreign – and is likely to be a stumbling block in the excellent GDP growth India has demonstrated in the last decade. “It is time that all well-intentioned Indians stand up and demand a peaceful, logical and constructive way of settling the issue of farmland at Singur and elsewhere in India.” Murthy’s statement comes just a few days after Mukesh, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited said, “A fear-psychosis is being created to slowdown certain projects of national importance”.

Mukesh also believed that such steps will deter the economic growth of the country and will also deter foreign investors from coming and investing in India. He had also gone on to praise the Tata Nano projects citing it as one of the most innovative projects in the world and one that would go on to establish the position of India as a small car hub in the world market. In the entire process, the biggest loser is sure to be the state and the people of West Bengal. (Agencies)

02 September 2008, Tuesday