Nandigram - Another Singur

The Statesman, January 3

Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today parried questions on the mob fury and attack on a police contingent at Nandigram and said no notification for acquiring 25,000 acres of land for Salim Group projects had as yet been issued. The chief minister’s comment, however, did little to clarify the situation regarding the notice issued by the Haldia Development Authority to gram panchayats even though it is yet to be served on individual landholders. “If we stop the process of industrialisation just because the Opposition wants us to stay away from agricultural land history will not spare us,” the chief minister had said earlier in the day as news of Nandigram was trickling in. What today’s incident has indicated, though, is that it’s not going to be smooth sailing for the CM’s industrialisation initiative post-Singur. Mr Partha Chattopadhyay, Leader of the Opposition, alleged government was trying to divert the people’s attention from Singur whilst CPI general secretary Mr AB Bardhan asked the government to “take lessons from the Singur controversy”. Local residents and Left Front partners should be taken into confidence and transparency maintained before acquiring land for the Salim Group, he said. Congress has called a bandh in Nandigram tomorrow.

Trinamul, activists point out discrepancies in status report
Statesman , Jan 3

Trinamul Congress leadership and members of Singur Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee (SKJRC), today pointed out discrepancies in the status report that was published by the state government on 22 December and 2 January and have given a 72- hour ultimatum to the state government to publish the list of farmers who have given their consent for land acquisition.

Listing the discrepancies, Mr Partha Chattopadhyay, leader of the Opposition, said that the chief minister in his letter to Miss Mamata Banerjee on 20 December stated that the total amount of compensation to be paid is Rs 131.49 crore. The status report which was published on that day also quoted the same figure.

But, yesterday, Mr Sabyasachi Sen, state industry and commerce secretary said, the total compensation payable for the acquired land in Singur is Rs 119 crore. Mr Chatterjee said that the government is making such “dubious” statements in order to baffle the people.

A senior member of SKJRC said that even the industry and commerce minister in an interview to a private channel, said, the total compensation package is about Rs 131 crore. He said in earlier status report stated so far Rs 85 crore was spent as compensation but yesterday Mr Sen said that Rs 83 crore was disbursed so far.

Earlier, in his second letter , the chief minister stated that of the 997 acres of land needed for the project, the state government had already acquired 954 acre of land with the consent of the farmers.

Yesterday, the state government announced that owners of 658 acres of land in Singur of total 997 acres acquired for Tata Motors small car project had accepted compensation, till 31 December 2006.

Mr Chattopadhyay said earlier the state government in their status report stated pre-award consent status - rayati consent- 584 acre, factory consent 38 acre and vested land 34 acre which amounts to 620 acre. The same status report stated 332 acre was awaiting for post award consent.

Mr Amitava Bhattacharya, general secretary of Mazdoor Kranti Parishad and a senior member of SKJRC, said :Mr Sen’s statement is ridiculous that land owners of 332 acre of land have given their consent but yet to receive compensation.

Mr Sabyasachi Sen, today said, the list is being prepared and some time would be required to publish the list.

Mr Chattopadhyay said “when the chief minister’s message is “do it now,’’ his secretaries are taking hell of a time to publish a list of farmers who have given consent. Actually the government has acquired the land forcibly with the help of police and without any consent of the farmers.”