The Statesman
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=289763&usrsess=1
Rajib Chatterjee
KOLKATA, 8 JUNE: The Nano project moved out of West Bengal eight months ago, but the Left Front government and the CPI-M continue to incur the wrath of international organisations for the manner in which land for the project was acquired and protests by agitating farmers were suppressed by police.
This time, the state government's procedure of land acquisition and subsequent police action against farmers spearheading the movement to reoccupy their agricultural plots have been severely criticised by human rights body Amnesty International (AI) which released its annual report recently.
The 2009 report said the “ruling party” had “violently” suppressed the protest of farmers and police failed to protect them. In the report, the AI has condemned the “forced eviction” of farmers from their farmlands in Singur.
The AI has clearly mentioned in its report that land was acquired for the Singur project without taking the consent of most of the farmers who owned it. In a veiled criticism of the West Bengal government and the ruling party, the human rights body has stated in its report that police authorities resorted to “baton charging” on “peaceful protestors” and detained many of them “without charge”.
Indirectly criticising the CPI-M, the AI stated in its report: “Police had failed to protect protesters when private militias, reportedly allied with ruling political parties, violently suppressed the protests. Authorities did not carry out timely or impartial inquiries into several of these incidents.”
The report further reads: “Local community protests continued over land acquisition and forced evictions. In some cases, police responded by baton-charging peaceful protesters and detaining them without charge for up to one week.”
The report also reads: “At least 30 people were injured in a six-month-long protests by farmers and Opposition parties in Singur. Subsequent negotiations between the protesters the state authorities failed, forcing the project to relocate to Gujarat.”
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Singur: Amnesty raps state govt
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Election 2009: The Singur Issue
The Statesman
Suhrid, a bother for CPM
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=22&id=250506&usrsess=1
Rajib Chatterjee
KOLKATA, April. 9: With the murder of Tapasi Malik (in picture) still fresh in the memories of the people of Singur, the CPI-M Singur zonal committee members are battling unwelcome queries that cropped up after they engaged Mr Suhrid Dutta, the prime accused in Tapasi murder case, in party's poll campaign.
Mr Dutta is leading the party's poll campaign in Singur for CPI-M contestant from Hooghly parliamentary constituency.
After Mr Suhrid Dutta, CPI-M Hooghly district committee member and prime accused in Tapasi Malik murder case, took over the charge of party's zonal committee, local Trinamul Congress leaders in Singur are wasting no time to earn sympathy votes by roping in Tapasi's parents ~ Mr Manoranjan Malik and Mrs Malina Malik in their poll campaign.
To get maximum political mileage, the Malik couple are holding rallies at various places in Singur and describing how their daughter was murdered allegedly by “henchmen hired by Mr Dutta”.
“Being a father of a martyr, I urge the people of the state to pull down Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee from his chair. He is one who backed the man who murdered my daughter. My innocent daughter was killed by Mr Dutta's henchmen for daring to oppose the CPI-M. I can never forgive him. He is roaming freely in Singur and delivering intellectual speeches. I want to see him behind bars,” Mr Malik had said in a poll campaign of Trinamul Congress at Bhadreswar a few days ago.
Mr Becharam Manna, Trinamul Congress leader and convener of the Singur Krishi Jomi raksha Committee said: “The CPI-M will realise shortly that it has made another blunder by engaging Mr Dutta in poll campaigning. People of Singur are not one with the CPI-M's decision. Local CPI-M leaders are facing unwelcome questions for using Mr Dutta in poll campaign. In election rallies, we are highlighting how the CPI-M leader had hired killers to murder Tapasi.”
“With Mr Dutta leading the party's election rallies, a section of CPI-M cadres in Singur apprehend that the existing support base of the party would be hit hard. Some senior CPI-M leaders of Singur have reportedly opposed the decision of the party to engage Mr Dutta in poll campaign. Since it was the decision of the party's state committee, local CPI-M leaders are not opening up in the public,” said a CPI-M insider.
Mr Dibakar Das, CPI-M Hooghly district committee member from Singur, however claimed: “There is no controversy within the party over the issue. People are not raising any questions because they know it very well that Mr Dutta was framed. He is neither a rapist nor a murderer.”
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=22&id=282427&usrsess=1
Pranesh Sarkar
KOLKATA, April 6: Though Singur sparked off nationwide controversy after the small car project of the Tata Motors moved out of the state owing to stiff resistance put up by the Trinamul-led Opposition over “forceful acquisition of farmland”, the CPI-M has decided not to use the issue as a major campaign tool.
The decision has come at a time when it was being predicted that the CPI-M could leave the Opposition in an uncomfortable position, especially in the urban areas, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. It was also being assumed that the CPI-M would leave no stone unturned to “expose” the “anti-development” stand of the Opposition and Singur could be a major weapon for this.
While replying to a question posted in its election campaign website, the CPI-M leadership made it clear that it would focus on the failure of the UPA government to address the concerns of common people during its regime. This apart, the party would also focus on the threat of communal politics of the BJP and the alternative politics advocated by the CPI-M and the Left parties to address the challenges faced by the nation.
Regarding Singur, the party leadership said: “What happened in Singur can only serve to illustrate the bankruptcy of forces like the Trinamul Congress which would be referred to as and when appropriate.”
However, experts said the party has intentionally kept the issue out of campaigning agenda as it would invite fresh controversies over acquisition of farm land to set up industries which could hit its rural vote bank. It can also be recalled that the Left partners had also raised their voices against forceful acquisition of farm land in Singur. If the controversy is raised again, it won't be very comfortable for the party.
It can also be recalled that the Left partners had initially opposed inclusion of Singur and Nandigram issues in the joint appeal of the Left Front. However, the issues were later mentioned in the appeal very briefly avoiding all controversial points. However, though the party decided not to use Singur issue as a major tool in the Lok Sabha polls, it has admitted that a mistake had been committed in Nandigram. Replying to another question, the party leadership said in West Bengal, there is a constant fragmentation and division of land holdings. And as a high proportion of rural populace is dependent on agriculture along with a high proportion of landlessness, it is essential that these people find avenues for employment which could be provided by industrial development.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Have Nano, will travel
Have Nano, will travel
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=4&id=282245&usrsess=1
The statements by three protagonists of the Left Front government’s industrialisation overdrive during the past three weeks tend to confirm the suspicion that there are wheels within wheels in the Tata Motors’ small car project at Singur that ended in a fiasco. It was believed that a full stop had been put to the venture after it was shifted to Sanand in Gujarat, but it seems the murky automobile saga is not yet over.
First, let’s examine how the three ~ chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, industries minister Nirupam Sen and principal industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen ~ by their statements sought to create an impression that they were talking at cross-purposes. But the way things unfolded during the past few days it became clear that the three were working to a meticulous plan.
It was Mr Bhattacharjee who, rounding up the debate on the Governor’s address for the Budget session, told the state Assembly that no part of the acquired land at Singur would be returned to the farmers as was being demanded by the Trinamul-led Opposition. He asserted that he couldn’t just betray the farmers of Singur by not setting up industries on the land acquired from them. He announced that the process of setting up industries on the land had started and it was likely to be completed in about a year.
The state government, he clarified, would, during this period, go through the motions of getting the land back from the Tatas who were given it on lease, while the Tatas wold move away whatever equipment they had installed there. In other words, the chief minister told the Assembly that the Tata episode at Singur was over for good.
Then came the dramatic launch of the “wonder car”, Nano, in Mumabi. Within minutes, the state industries minister called a Press conference to bemoan the loss of the Nano project. He squarely blamed the Trinamul and its allies for having brought this “misfortune” to the people of West Bengal, and asked why the LF government was accused of not being transparent in its deal with the Tatas.
He even asked “intellectuals” and social activists, who had put the state government in the dock for the deal why they were not seeking information under the Right to Information Act on the Gujarat government’s deal with the Tatas for the relocated project at Sanand.
The fact is, it was the LF government which had blocked every attempt to seek information on its deal under the RTI Act.
Nano has been turned into a major election plank for the LF with which it castigates the Trinamul Congress. The abortive venture is being projected by the LF as an example of Trinamul’s anti-development and anti-people politics. Hence, the launchng of Nano gave the LF’s Lok Sabha poll campaign the much needed extra firepower to slam Trinamul.
When one thought the remarks of the chief minister and the industries minister were merely part of poll rhetoric and a desperate attempt to turn public opinion against the Trinamul, which had already reaped huge political dividends from the Singur and Nandigram turmoil, the principal industries secretary used the safety and distance of Kuala Lumpur to announce that the Tatas are to stay at Singur and that West Bengal would be the second assembly line of Nano if only the state had been denied the pride of place of being the first stable of the small car.
For the first time, the principal industries secretary disclosed that Tata Motors had plans to produce Nano from four factories in the country. All along it had been bruited about that not an inch of the 997 acres could be returned to the agitating farmers as the project area had been conceived to be large enough to accommodate a whole automobile cluster so that Nano could be made available at the unbelievably cheap price of Rs 1 lakh.
The principal industries secretary had once even sounded grateful to the Tatas for their “sacrifice” of Rs 16,000 for each car they would produce as they would have got this money by way of sales tax exemption had they set up shop in Uttaranchal!
All these reveal that the Tatas must be regretting their decision to move out of Singur. This implies the undisclosed benefits that they were offered by the state government were too great to be thrown away. The Marxists lent their voice to Tata Motors’ inflexible demand for the entire 997 acres at Singur because conceding Trinamul’s demand for return of 400 acres would have been too big a political price for them.
Now, perhaps business is trying to get the better of politics.
Trinamul would let the Singur small car project be revived only if it comes up on 600 acres and the rest of the land is returned to the unwilling farmers from whom it had been forcibly acquired. This has been their stand from the beginning.
If the Marxists accept this stand and hope to make whatever political gain is possible from the actual production of cars in the state, Singur can be the second address of Nano as wished by the principal industries secretary.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The Statesman
Yellow Nanos ready to roll
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-09-05&usrsess=1650188831802&clid=2&id=247575
Sabyasachi Roy
SINGUR, Sept. 4: While talks are on between the Governor, the state government and the Opposition to find a solution to the Singur stalemate, Tata engineers have already completed assembling three Nano cars in the Singur plant.
A visit to Tata's small car factory in Singur revealed three Nano cars wrapped in polythene sheets and kept in the 'Tri Chassis Finishing Unit' of the plant. According to sources, the cars were completed a few days back before the cease work was announced. Tata engineers had assembled these cars to train the Singur plant staff.
The spares and engines needed to put together the vehicles, reached the Singur plant from Tata's plant in Pune. Sources said of the three vehicles, the yellow one is ready for the road. Engineers are giving the final touches to the red one, assembled a few days ago, which now stands without its doors. The third one has not been painted yet. Tata engineers had just begun to demonstrate the assembling process to the trainees when work was suspended at the factory. Five robots had arrived recently to install the engine.
"Nano is such a sophisticated car with advanced technology that installation of engine and gear box will be done with the help of robots," a source said, adding it takes just a minute to assemble a Nano. The rear-engined vehicle is pollution-free. Fitted with a 623cc engine the eco-friendly vehicle is likely to get buyers in the country and abroad. "Every part has been meticulously checked before installation and once the vehicles are ready they will have to go through a rigorous screening test before they are allowed to roll out of the factory," the source said.
The other side of the story...
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-09-05&usrsess=1650188831802&clid=2&id=247563
Subhadeep Saha
JALPAIGURI, Sept. 4: While the state and others are busy debating whether whether West Bengal would have to pay through the nose if the Tatas made an exit, the world has come crashing down for a humble rickshaw-puller of Jalapiguri. His son is employed as a worker at the Singur small car project. With work at the project now halted, the son is back home with no immediate future in sight.
The father has taken up from where the son left and in his attempt to protect his son's job, he has sent a letter addressing Mr Ratan Tata, urging him not to leave Singur.
Bimal Choudhury, a 64-yeal-old rickshawpuller and seasonal grass-cutter from Teesta Sarada Palli in Jalpaiguri, took great pains to educate his son Bankim, depriving himself and the rest of the family members some of the extravagances which he could have indulged in otherwise. The son rose to the occasion and cleared the ITI trade. He then found work as a trainee in the mechanical wing of the small car project at Singur on 9 July raising the hopes of his family.
But all hopes came crashing down when the project authority asked Bankim to go home following the project's closure in view of the ongoing agitation. The son returned home last Saturday facing an uncertain future, sending his father and the rest of the family members in a stupour.
“We have seven members in the family. Bankim is our only hope. If the project stops, we are back to our grass cutting days,” lamented the father Bimal Chowdhury. And so he decided to write to Mr Tata and is keeping his fingers crossed that the industrial giant would not leave Singur.
This comes a day after a 65-year-old farmer, Sushen Santra, who had parted with his land voluntarily for the Singur small car project, poisoned himself to death at his Joymollah village residence.
Family members of the deceased claimed that the Tata decision to consider relocating the Singur project had upset him. His three sons worked as wage labourers in an ancillary unit. His relatives say that Santra consumed poison because he apprehended that his three sons would lose their jobs.
Singur stir helps smaller parties gain popularity
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-09-05&usrsess=1650188831802&clid=2&id=247563
Rajib Chakraborty
SINGUR, Sept. 4: Smaller parties, which have joined Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee's dharna at Singur, are reaping rich benefits by participating in the agitation as they look to gain a footing in the local electorate.
Parties like Janasangharsha Samity, Janata Dal (United), Paschimbanga Samata Party and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Aditya), are among those little known parties in the state, which have joined the movement demanding the return of 400 acres of acquired land for the Tata small car project.
Leaders of these parties are getting their supporters to participate in the dharna because of the widespread popularity of the agitation.
These parties have set up their own makeshift stages around Trinamul's dharna manch at Singur.
Mr Raja Goswami, secretary of Janasangharsha Samity said that they have brought about 3,000 people from various districts to Singur. He expressed hope that many more people will come and join the movement under their banner if the agitation continues. He said that the agitation has helped them increase the popularity of their party in Bengal.
“Our party is very small in West Bengal. But, Miss Mamata Banerjee's movement has benefited us. We have started campaigning in urban and as well as rural areas of the state to urge people to join this movement and the response has been great,” said Mr Goswami.
Mr Amitava Dutta, from Janata Dal (United), which does not have a prominent presence in the state also shared a similar experience. “We have many new supporters from Howrah, North and South 24-Parganas and Nadia. “Many of them have even brought rice and pulses with them as they plan to stay here for the agitation.
“Women supporters have appealed to us that they want to stay here round the clock and we are doing what we can to facilitate their stay,” said Mr Dutta.
Mr Somen Mitra, the leader of Pragatishil Indira Congress, said that this is a very good platform for their party supporters.
“Our party supporters are very enthusiastic. They are ready to join any further movement regarding illegal land acquisition,” he said.
Scotland on Sunday
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business/The--small-car-which.4466310.jp
The small car which landed itself with a big problem
GANESH Dhank is busy bundling his sisal crop and laying it in a pond to loosen the fibres, and ignoring the marches, the singing and the slogans. Stripped to the waist, his head wrapped in faded, pink-checked fabric, he has long ceased paying too much attention to the siege of Tata Group's plant for it new Nano car, which is entering its 12th day.
"The thing is," he says, waving his gnarled hand towards the hulking new grey and blue factory building across the road, and flashing a toothless smile, "that part of the land was really not that fertile. It was four-feet lower than the land level elsewhere, and once in five to six years, if the monsoon was really good, you could get some plantation going there."
Shobal Mandal, a farmer who is working with Dhank, disagrees, shouting that the land used to produce three good crops a year. And over at the stage, Dinesh Trivedi, a former member of parliament for Trinamool Congress, the opposition party leading the protests, says the land actually yielded five crops.
"The yield per acre here was the highest for rice, not just in India, but for the world," he says solemnly.
The facts have long ago been lost in the protests against compulsory land acquisition for the plant in the village of Singur, led by Trinamool's rabble-rousing leader Mamata Banerjee.
The protest has engulfed Tata's plans and risks undermining India's place in the global economy. Tata was forced to suspend production and talks to resolve the situation were continuing yesterday, but no one is underestimating the seriousness of this latest clash between a local community and India's industrial expansion.
At stake is Tata chairman Ratan Tata's dream of producing his new people's car at 100,000 rupees (about £1,300), planned for October, plus the £190m Tata is thought to have invested in the plant.
The strike also threatens India's emerging reputation as an industrial as well as an IT economy: more even than Tata's acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover, the car has become an icon of India's industrialisation, catching the world's imagination with its unconventional, low-cost engineering. But on Thursday, Banerjee showed little concern for any of this. "We are not interested in Nano or Fano or Jano," she said abruptly. "This is not our business."
Trinamool, which means 'grass roots', is demanding that the Tatas and the West Bengal government hands back 400 acres of the 1,000 acres of land cordoned off for the factory, or at least provide alternative land to farmers. It has offered to help Tata Motors buy less fertile land on the other side of the road, where its suppliers can set up their factories. Mamata has suggested she might accept a solution where the farmers are given equivalent land nearby.
Last Tuesday, Tata brought the crisis to a crunch, announcing that it had suspended construction and commissioning work at the plant and revealing that a "detailed plan to relocate the plant and machinery to an alternate site is under preparation".
The move has succeeded in turning many educated Bengalis against Banerjee, sparking protests by the IT industry, and complaints from Singur inhabitants who had been given jobs at the plant. But Banerjee is still adamant: "We are not going to compromise with the Tatas because of their money, and we are not going to bow our heads to the government."
Dr Saugat Mukherjee, regional director for the Confederation of Indian Industry in Kolkata, says: "The people of West Bengal really need this project. This project is very critical, not only for the state but for the entire country."
For Banerjee, Singur is part of the long battle she has waged against the Communist Party's 32-year rule in West Bengal since setting up Trinamool in 1997, focused on winning votes in the Communists' agricultural heartland.
Rabble-rousing politicians are seeing the same opportunities elsewhere. On the same day Tata said it was considering leaving Singur, thousands of protestors descended on the site of the steel plant planned by Korean steel giant Posco in the state of Orissa.
A strike is planned for this Wednesday in protest against both Posco's plant and an aluminium mine planned by London-listed mining company Vedanta in the Niyamgiri hills. In fertile West Bengal, which with 900 people per square kilometre, has the highest population density in India, the competition between industry and farmers for land is even more intense. Plans for a 10,000-acre chemicals hub in the Nandigram region were abandoned last year by Indonesia's Salim Group after clashes between armed police and activists affiliated to Trinamool left 14 dead.
But Tata Motors' has not always managed Singur well. Jindal Steel secured land rights for its Salboni steel plant, also in West Bengal, partly by offering farmers unwilling to sell their land shares in the project. Back in 2006, Tata did little to build bridges with the 2,251 of Singur's 13,050 farmers who rejected their compensation cheques.
And then when Ratan Tata unveiled the Nano at the Delhi auto show in January, he joked wryly that it came "despite Mamata" – something Trinamool took as a taunt.
Even now, Tata Motors management has remained distant. Ratan Tata, attending an automotive conference in Delhi, said on Thursday that the resolution of the crisis was in the hands of Bengal's politicians, not his company. The Tatas have refused to send a representative to take part in crisis talks, despite an invitation from West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
Tata Motors has been firm in its refusal to alter its landholding, arguing that shifting the companies supplying the Nano's parts, who were to set up on about 300 acres near the plant, would add too much to the cost of the car.
If Tata does abandon the plant, it won't be the first time. Back in the 1990s, Tata was forced by protestors to drop plans for two plants, one for steel and one for aluminium in the nearby state of Orissa after protests.
Even today, the steel plant Tata Steel began work on last month at Kalinga Naga in Orissa faces considerable opposition form displaced tribal villagers, and its planned port at Dhamra in Orissa has come under attack from environmentalists.
International car-makers, such as Volkswagen, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai and Nissan, have so far got away with building car plants in India without much protest. But with more than twice the population density of China, the competing demands for land from agriculture and infrastructure will only intensify as India industrialises.
Monday, August 25, 2008
First day of Mamata's dharna in Singur
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080825/images/25zzsingur1big.jpg
Shh! the siege is on |
| Peace on lips, paralysis on highway |
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080825/jsp/frontpage/story_9739805.jsp
| DEVADEEP PUROHIT | |||
Singur, Aug. 24: As the sun set over the straggly industrial skyline of Singur, Mamata Banerjee rose to her feet with peace on her lips and the power to paralyse on call. “Our agitation will continue unless the 400 acres forcibly taken away from farmers is returned to them,” the Trinamul leader declared from a podium around 100 metres from the Tata Motors small-car factory. “I am here and our agitation will continue.” With her torrent came an early evening shower, the sky over Singur streaked in dark clouds. By then, the halogen lights inside the Tata plant had been turned on. But the future of the project looked dim as Mamata threatened to continue her siege unless the Tata project was trimmed to 600 acres. Appearing unfazed by the pullout threat from the Tatas, the Trinamul Congress chief dared the group to leave Bengal. “If other states are inviting you, please go there.… But can you leave with Tata Centre? Can you leave with Tata Indicom?” she roared as the 40,000-strong crowd around podium No. 7 started thinning.
Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh echoed her. “If others are calling, please go. West Bengal will say, goodbye, ta-ta,” Singh said, drawing a huge round of applause. In sharp contrast to the bustle outside, the factory, where over 3,500 people are at work on any given day, wore a deserted look. “Sunday is a day off. Some work takes place in the morning shift, but today there is hardly any activity inside,” said a police officer. Tomorrow, will it be possible for the workers to go inside the plant? Tata Motors officials did not want to answer the questions, though Mamata insisted that no one would be stopped from going to work. She also preferred to label her movement “a satyagraha”. “This is a peaceful demonstration. We want peace…. No one should even look at the Tata plant.” The promise of peace was a recurring theme during the six-hour session, which started at 2.15pm, soon after she reached the dharna site. But the siege’s potential to disrupt was on full display by the evening. As the numbers grew around the podium, traffic on Durgapur Expressway, which links Calcutta and Burdwan, came to a halt with police closing stretches of the road. Trinamul has erected 21 podiums along the expressway. After ending the day’s proceedings, Mamata asked the 2,000-odd supporters who had stayed back for the night to lie down on the road. “No one will dare come near you,” she told them as they prepared khichudi for dinner. People sprawled on the road, the police stopped vehicles at the three toll plazas at Asansol, Panagarh and Shaktigarh on National Highway 2. The expressway is a part of the highway. Thousands of vehicles bound for Calcutta were being held up till late tonight. Vehicles coming towards Asansol from the north will have to be diverted through Purulia, Bankura, Midnapore and Howrah to reach Calcutta, which means the distance will double to 400km. Those stranded at Panagarh will have to take a detour through Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24-Parganas, adding 150km to the usual journey to Calcutta. Vehicles stuck at Shaktigarh will have to turn back about 15km to Burdwan and take GT Road to reach Howrah and Calcutta, logging an additional 50km. Carrying Trinamul flags, supporters trickled in since early morning as a police force of over 3,000 stood on guard both inside and outside the plant. While police sources claimed that only 5,000 people had come from the affected villages in Singur, Trinamul leaders said most were from North and South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore districts. Mamata sought to scotch the government’s reported attempt to offer alternative plots to landlosers. “There is alternative land for all the ancillary units just opposite the Tata factory, which CPM-backed promoters have bought in anticipation of huge gains. We can identify such tracts and our panchayat will help transfer them to the government, where the ancillary units can be set up,” she said. | |||
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Trinamul or CPM, anger simmers
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080825/jsp/bengal/story_9739658.jsp
Trinamul or CPM, anger simmers |
| KINSUK BASU |
Singur, Aug. 24: A strange irony is playing itself out in the villages of Singur. Most villagers here don’t want the Tatas to go away. But they feel that the manner in which the land was acquired was “unfair, unjust and highhanded”. Madan Mohan Ghosh, 47, of Bamanpara has been a CPM cardholder since 1984. His father has surrendered his half an acre for the Tata project and collected the cheque for it. But today, Ghosh’s “heart” lies with Mamata and her siege, though he is not participating in it. Sitting in the cowshed at his home, Ghosh, an insurance agent, said there should have been some “dialogue” with the common people whose land was taken away. “We want industry, the Tatas are a group with a lot of goodwill but the land was acquired in such an arbitrary manner and in such a hurry that it has left a lot of bitterness here,” Ghosh said. “Despite being a die-hard CPM supporter, I feel what Mamata is doing for the farmers is right.” Fatik Ghosh of Gopalnagar has many differences with Madan Mohan: the 45-year-old farmer is a Trinamul supporter whose father’s nearly 5 acres has been “forcibly grabbed” by the government and he has refused to collect the cheque for it. But the differences end there: he, too, believes that ind- ustrialisation should take place, that it is good for the health of the state and that the Tatas should stay. “We know that the Tata project will be good for Singur, there will be prosperity here and jobs around,” Fatik said. “But why should it be such a big deal to shift the ancillary units? There are several hundred acres of low-lying land at Talchanmath near Joymolla, about two minutes’ drive from the main Tata project. The farmers there would happily sell the land since it is usually covered with water and there is no farming. That would sort out the problem.” No one is quite sure what Mamata’s sit-in will yield and whether the unwilling farmers will get their land back. But there is a general feeling that whatever is happening in Calcutta and Singur may be taking place “just a bit too late”. Work at the Tata project has progressed too far — about 85 per cent of the work is done, according to the chief minister — and the Nano could well roll out this October. Besides, even if the Tatas were to leave, the land would not be suitable for cultivation. At least not for now and it would cost a lot to make acres of concrete flooring yield any crop again. “The dialogue should have started a long time back,” said law student Gautam Maity of Barwaritala. “The efforts by the government to hammer out some agreement with Mamata and the Trinamul pressure to make that happen should have taken place two years back. Trinamul’s success in the panchayat polls here has suddenly kick-started the Singur battle.” |
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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080825/jsp/bengal/story_9739657.jsp
| UTTAM DUTTA | |
Singur, Aug. 24: The CPM today tried to “counter” Mamata Banerjee’s siege with more than 40 street-corner meetings in and around Singur. “We want to convince the people that the small-car project is important for Singur. We also want to gauge the mood of the villagers who are unwilling to give up their land,” said Dibakar Das, a member of the CPM’s Hooghly district committee. Meetings were held at Doluigachha More, Nanda Bazar, Duleypara and Bora in Singur. All the spots are 5-10km from the plant. Dankuni, Chanditala, Mogra, Dhaniakhali, Haripal and Tarakeswar were the other sites in Hooghly. CPM workers were up at 6 this morning, putting up festoons on Delhi Road, between Dankuni and Baidyabati. Apart from Das, MP Anil Basu, district secretariat members Balai Sabui and Benoy Dutta, district committee member Srikanta Chatterjee and zonal secretary Amar Chanda addressed the meetings. “ We explained to the peo- ple that it was not possible to return 400 acres as they are an integral part of the Nano project. We also told the villagers that there were many who wanted to collect their cheques but could not because of threats from the Save Farmland Committee,” Sabui said. The local CPM leaders had met last night at the Singur zonal committee office. “We discussed ways to convince the villagers who are yet to collect their cheques. We will go to their homes and speak to them,” Das said. The CPM leader said: “We will ask them why they don’t want to give up their land. The door-to-door campaign will begin tomorrow.” The Statesman Mamata wants Singur as model for co-existence http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=219528 Soma Mookherjee & Uday Basu SINGUR/KOLKATA, Aug 24 : With all eyes riveted on Singur today where Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee told the biggest ever mobilisation of protesters that the state government must make the Tata small car project a model for the coexistence of industries and agriculture, CPI-M state secretary Mr Biman Bose hinted in the city, about 60 km away from the main theatre of action that the state government might finally concede the demand for return of land acquired for project to the unwilling farmers. Mr Bose told the media that the number of such farmers and the quantum of land they owned needed first to be determined through more talks between the state government and the agitation sponsors. “Last week the state government asked representatives of the Trinamul-led Opposition during the meeting at Writers’ Buildings to provide details about the farmers who didn't give their consent for the acquisition of their land. Fresh dialogue can be held in the next few days and I believe a solution can be found through talks,” Mr Bose said. He made the comments when the massive mobilisation by the Trinamul and its allies made it absolutely clear that the agitation would continue till the demand for the return of 400 acres of land was met. “The state government will place its papers and they (the Opposition) will give theirs and a solution can definitely be found to the Singur impasse,’’ Mr Bose said. Sensing the groundswell of support for the agitation at Singur, Mr Bose even said he had no objection to a democratic and peaceful movement, while the state administration through its home secretary had for the past few days been issuing veiled threats that it won't hesitate to take stern action if the factory walls were damaged. Miss Banerjee virtually took Singur by storm when she shared the huge dais with the Samajwadi Party general secretary, Mr Amar Singh, Ms Medha Patkar, Progressive Indira Congress leader Mr Somen Mitra, Party for Democratic Socialism state secretary, Mr Samir Putatunda and others. She asserted that she didn't want the Tatas to move out, but the latter should honour the words they wrote to her saying they needed 600-650 acres for setting up the main plant. “Mr Ratan Tata should refrain from issuing threats at the behest of the CPI-M. The Tatas shouldn't say different things at different times. Nor should they try to blackmail the state's people. The ancillary units, which would manufacture automobile components to be sold elsewhere as well, can be set up on a sizable land across the main project site that is now held by promoters close to the CPI-M. We have asked our panchayats not to give permission for housing projects on the land. This will ensure the unwilling farmers will get back the 400 acres of land, while the project along with the vendor's park comes up,” she said. She asked the agitators to maintain peace. Mr Singh said he had made a mistake by trusting the version on Singur given by the CPI-M leadership. He said the Singur agitation would be turned into a model for organising resistance throughout the country against indiscriminate land acquisition for industrialisation. Mr Singh invited Miss Banerjee to take part in a similar movement in UP. He dared the CPI-M state secretary and the CM to visit Singur and “listen to the voices of the people”. While Miss Banerjee retreated into her makeshift room, near the dharna manch, late tonight, her followers were seen reclining on the Durgapur Expressway. Will Nano miss the deadline? http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=6&theme=&usrsess=1&id=219561 Rajib Chatterjee SINGUR, Aug 24: Bandh culture in the state and violent agitation in Singur have fuelled speculation that Tatas wouldn’t be able to complete the construction work of the Singur small car project by October this year. Therefore, there is a possibility that Mr Ratan Tata’s dream car, the Nano, might miss its deadline scheduled for October. On the first day of the Trinamul Congress-sponsored indefinite agitation, construction work at the project site virtually remained suspended with a large number of labourers deciding to keep them away from the project site. Police said that only 200 out of 1500 labourers turned up at the project site today while others remained absent after being allegedly threatened by a section of supporters of Singur Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee (SKJRC). It was alleged that SKJRC supporters had threatened labourers with dire consequences if they dared to join work today. No complaint, however, was registered in this connection. Though Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee said they would not create any law and order trouble at Singur during the agitation, officials of private companies undertaking construction work at the project site are worried as they feel that labourers and engineers would be obstructed to enter the project site from tomorrow by the agitating farmers. Farmers spearheading the movement at Singur said they would not resist Tata officials and labourers from entering the project site. “We want Tatas to stay at Singur. But we demand the return of our 400 acres of land that has been acquired forcefully,” Mr Manik Das, a senior SKJRC leader, said. A senior engineer of a company involved with the construction work of the project said on conditions of anonymity that though almost 85 per cent work of the project has been completed, a lot of work still has to be done. “Only 60 per cent of the total 23 kilometre road inside the project area could be constructed till today. Work was severely affected on the day of the Citu sponsored industrial strike four days ago. Now, Trinamul Congress has started an indefinite agitation. We are concerned wether the labourers would be able to get back to their work,” he said. According to him, only 200 workers came for work today. “Since we don't want to take any risk, we have instructed labourers not to argue with the agitators if they are prevented from entering the project area tomorrow,” he added. Another senior engineer said if the agitation continues for more than a week, work at the project area will be totally stopped. “If trucks carrying construction materials are prevented from entering the project area, work will be seriously affected. We only have seven-days stock of construction materials,” the engineer said. According to reports, around 90 per cent work of the factory’s paints shop, engine shop, press shop, belt shop is complete. Around 300 employees including 100 supervisor, technicians and engineers are currently monitoring the construction work of the project. “Some Trinamul Congress supporters had entered a lodge at Baidyabati and asked workers to join the dharna today. When they refused to obey, the Trinamul Congress men threatened to drive them away from Singur,” said an engineer. | |
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A political motive: Sen
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA/SINGUR, Aug. 22: The state commerce and industries, Mr Nirupam Sen today said that the majority of the unwilling farmers in Singur were opposing the small car factory on political grounds, indicating it was not merely a question of losing one's livelihood that has prompted the agitation.
In an interactive with industrialists at the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Sen was repeatedly asked why the state government did not sit down with the farmers to thrash out the issue. In his response, Mr Sen said they had tried a number of times to do so through the district administration and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. “Among those who did not take compensation cheques there are certainly some people who refused to do so on political grounds. They have been convinced to oppose the project . and would fight it out till the end," he said.
According to him, only 2251 people have not taken compensation, for a total of 305.47 acres of land, while 10,852 people have accepted compensation cheques for 691.64 acres of land.
He called on the Opposition to identify marginal farmers and arrange for their alternative livelihood with the state government. But the question of returning land should be resolved within the frame of law and keeping in mind the ethical question, he said.
Later, addressing a CPI-M rally at Singur, Mr Sen said that some left and right extremist outfits and right wing political parties have joined hands to create anarchy and force the Tatas to abandon the project.
He also alleged that Trinamul Congress was trying for a repeat of the Nandigram episode at Singur and declared that their efforts would not succeed.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Dialogue on Singur?
The Telegraph http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080808/jsp/frontpage/story_9663360.jsp Mamata ready for talks with Tatas |
| OUR BUREAU |
Calcutta, Aug. 7: Mamata Banerjee has expressed willingness to talk to the Tatas to resolve the Singur standoff, provided “a proposal comes from them”. The CPM also sought to sound accommodative without making any commitment, suggesting that “alternative land” for unwilling farmers or ancillary units could be “pondered over” if the government chose to do so. “I am ready to talk to the Tatas if a proposal comes from them. This is a matter of courtesy. Moreover, I am not opposed to the car plant at Singur,” Mamata said two days after indicating that she did not want the industrial house to leave Bengal. However, she stuck to the condition that the 400 acres allegedly acquired forcibly from unwilling farmers should be returned. “But in the discussions, I would request them (the Tatas) to tell the state government to return the 400 acres to unwilling farmers and set up the car plant on the remaining 600 acres. The Tatas have some social obligations after all, and I have no confrontation with them,” Mamata told a news conference in response to a question whether she would hold talks with the Nano makers. In a cautious reaction, an official with Tata Motors said the company was not “averse to talking to anyone”. He added that it would be premature at this stage to speculate about the specific issues that could be discussed at the meeting, whenever that is held. A close aide to Mamata said her gesture was meant to address the charge that she was anti-development. The perception was reinforced after eight business chambers issued separate carefully worded appeals since Tuesday expressing “deep concern” at disruptions of “major projects” “We are a responsible Opposition and are at the helm of governance in two zilla parishads, East Midnapore and South 24-Parganas. At this juncture, we want to send a message across the state that we are not opposed to industry to counter the CPM’s propaganda,” the aide said. If Mamata is looking for a face-saver, the CPM held out an olive branch. Party state secretary Biman Bose said the government could “ponder over” Mamata’s proposal for giving land elsewhere to farmers who are unwilling to part with their Singur plots. “It is up to the government to take a decision. I have nothing to say.” Bose suggested that if Mamata had a proposal for shifting the ancillary units from the project site, she should come to the negotiation table with “a map and other details” and put across her views. Industries minister Nirupam Sen had earlier ruled out acquisition of alternative plots but Bose’s comments — albeit non-committal — suggest the party is keen to bring Mamata to the talks table and defuse the crisis for the time being. “It’s good that Mamata has expressed her desire to have a dialogue with the Tatas. But before that, she should also talk to the state government. After all, an across-the-table discussion is the need of the hour to clear the misgivings,” the usually acerbic Bose said. Industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen also welcomed Mamata’s gesture. “A negotiation is always good, more so in this situation. I certainly hope it happens. But I cannot answer your question on whether the Opposition would eventually sit down across the table with the Tatas.” Asked if she would hold talks with the state government, Mamata said: “On my side, there is no problem…. But if the government wants to discuss everything except return of the excess land, the discussion has no meaning. They should begin talks with an open mind and without any conditions.” Nandigram meet Mamata said tonight that she was not opposed to the chief minister’s peace initiative in Nandigram, where another CPM leader was killed today and several families have started fleeing. The chief minister has convened an all-party meeting in Tamluk on Saturday. The Statesman Mamata wants to talk to Tatas http://thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=217425 Statesman News Service |
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Singur: CM, Mamata Banerjee, Amartya Sen
The Statesman
Tatas are here to stay, says Buddha
http://thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=217096
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Aug. 5: Taking the fight over the Tata Motors small car project at Singur to the Opposition camp, chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asserted that “neither the Tatas nor the state government would back out of the project.”
In the same breath he ruled out returning 400 acres of land to the unwilling land-losers as is being demanded by the Trinamul Congress and its allies. Speaking at a party function, the chief minister said for the past few days “new and strange things are being said” and asked why and wherefrom the 400 acres of land would be returned. “Have we acquired 997 acres of land for the project just for the sake of it? The Maruti car project with the same targeted capacity as the Tatas' was set up on 1,200 acres of land.* Work at Singur is now in full swing. Don't worry, the factory will come up followed by more such automobile factories apart from other industrial units,” he said. The chief minister said if the 400 acres of land were to be returned, then the project would have to be scrapped. “In that event what would we tell the 6,000 people who would get jobs at Singur?”
The chief minister appealed to the Opposition to decide whether it wants to engage in “positive dialogue with the state government without harming the state's interests and bringing in irrelevant questions.”Mr Bhattacharjee added that the Opposition was shedding “false” tears for farmers. “Leave it to us to worry about the farmers,” he said.
Former chief minister Mr Jyoti Basu in a written speech accused the Trinamul-led Opposition of trying to resist the state government's industrialisation drive and create chaos. “The state's people won't tolerate it,” he said.
Industries minister Mr Nirupam Sen earlier said cars from Singur are expected to roll out before Pujas. Home secretary Mr AM Chakrabarti also said Tata officials had expressed confidence about completing the project on schedule.
He and the Director General of Police, Mr AB Vohra visited the Tata Motors project site during the day and took stock of security arrangements there.
The Tata Motors authorities were asked to beef up their own existing private security system.Besides, there would be additional deployment of security around the plant, while breaches at various points of the 14 km long wall would be repaired and barbed wire put up. Action would be taken against those intimidating the workers at the construction site, he said.
In the meantime, the Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee said : “We don't want anyone to move out of our state, but our people should not be pushed out of the state for their (Tatas’) sake.''
Speaking at a function today, Nobel laureate, Prof. Amartya Sen, has also said there was need for discussion on the project.
The Telegraph
Security beefed up in Singur, Amartya Sen stands behind the Singur plant once again
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080806/jsp/frontpage/story_9653635.jsp
Mamata: Tatas can stay if… Trinamul sets terms, CM rules out pullout | |
| OUR BUREAU | |
Calcutta, Aug. 5: Mamata Banerjee has declared she does not want the Tatas to leave Singur, tying her first-ever gesture of accommodation to familiar conditions the government said could not be fulfilled. “I am not opposed to industrialisation. That is why I don’t want the Tatas to leave Singur. Instead, I am offering a solution…. Let the Tatas negotiate with the state government to return 400 acres forcibly acquired from unwilling poor farmers,” she told a news conference. “We have already identified a patch of land opposite the automobile plant where ancillary units can easily be shifted,” she added. The government ruled out returning the land but chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sought to calm rising fears that the Tatas’ patience was wearing thin following violence and the threat of an indefinite siege from August 24. “Rest assured. Neither the Tatas… nor the state government will withdraw from there. For the sake of the jobless youth of the state… there will be not only one Singur but many Singurs to host more automobile and other manufacturing units,” Bhattacharjee told a party event. The statements from the two ends of the political spectrum need not mean that the storm clouds over the Singur project have lifted. Mamata’s seemingly placatory comment could be an attempt to appear reasonable in the face of criticism that she is against industrialisation and bent on sabotaging the small-car project on which the future of Bengal’s re-industrialisation has come to rest. By making an unequivocal public commitment, the chief minister is also building a case that the government is doing everything possible to keep the project on track. However, the fact that this is the first time Mamata has said she does not want the Tatas to leave “Singur” has prompted some officials to spy a thin window of reconciliation. As of now, Mamata will not talk unless the 400 acres are returned — a condition that, the government insists, will kill the Singur project. “The psuedo-champions of the farmers’ cause are now demanding the return of 400 acres. It’s not possible. The small-car project would have to be abandoned if the portion of the land is to be given back,” the chief minister said.
Bhattacharjee said he was ready to hold discussions but not on “unrealistic demands”. “We are ready to honour the Opposition. But don’t close the path to dialogue by making illogical and unacceptable demands. We want discussion on realistic demands.’’ In response, Mamata said later: “The Trinamul Congress always plays its role as a responsible Opposition and our demand for the return of 400 acres is quite justified.” Industries minister Nirupam Sen said he had not received “any communication” from the Tatas that they were thinking of pulling out. “Work is progressing in full swing and 75 per cent of it is over in Singur. The remaining work will be completed and the small car will roll out as per schedule. I haven’t got any communication or intimation from the Tatas that they will leave,” Sen said. The state government also despatched the home secretary to Singur — which is being interpreted as a gesture of reassurance to the Tatas and warning to potential trouble-makers. Asked if her party workers would prevent employees from entering the site during the indefinite dharna, Mamata avoided a direct response. “Our purpose is to lodge a silent protest. We are not bothered if employees are able to enter the factory site or not,” she said. |
Pullout cost on Buddha lips
- Delhi warned against brake
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080806/jsp/bengal/story_9653425.jsp
| OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT | |
Calcutta, Aug. 5: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has for the first time spoken about the possibility of the Centre “dragging its feet” on Bengal projects, warning that such retribution would harm the country. “If the Centre now drags its feet over these projects, let them do harm to the country’s interests,” the chief minister told a party event this evening, referring to the deep-sea port and a new airport for Calcutta. The deep-sea port is crucial for drawing big-ticket investors to Bengal. But ever since relations between the Left and the UPA government soured over the nuclear deal, there have been fears that the Centre would not show eagerness to cut the red tape around the project. Speaking out for the first time since the Left withdrew support to the Centre, the chief minister asked: “Are these the demands of the state only? Will it not help the entire region and the country as a whole? Did not the Prime Minister himself announce his Look East policy?” Bhattacharjee sought to downplay suggestions that the Left’s pullout would harm the state’s interests. “Some of our advisers are arguing that we harmed the state’s interests by withdrawing support (to the UPA). We didn’t give priority to the state’s narrow interests when it came to considering national interests,” he said. “We are not running a government at the mercy of the Congress or the Centre. Both the Centre and the state government are elected governments. We came to power defeating the Congress. We expect relations with the Centre in tune with the democratic and federal structure of the country. So why does the question of harming the state’s interest arise?” he asked. Referring to the nuclear deal with America, Bhattacharjee called the Manmohan Singh government a “betrayer”. “The government betrayed national interests by moving ahead with the nuclear deal, part of its plan to be the strategic partner of the US,” the chief minister said. Today, CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu, who till now had been silent on the Left pullout, endorsed the withdrawal in a statement read out by state CPM secretary Biman Bose. “We withdrew our support and voted against the government in the trust vote in Parliament as it was not possible to accept the UPA government’s pro-US policy at the cost of national interests,’’ Bose quoted Basu as saying. *See Also: Maruti acquires more land for fourth plant, plans gearbox unit Singur RevisitedMaruti launches 4th car plant Maruti may set up gear box plant in India Reports from The Telegraph: Clouds darken business horizon : Plea to save Nano plant Security beef-up to tackle siege More police and watchtowers at Tata Motors site in Singur August 24: Singur siege date- Plan to surround Tata Motors site and keep away ‘outsiders’ |
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Better deals? Stick to neighbourhood stores
http://thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=215879
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, July 28 : Is se sastaa koi nahi, did you say? Despite the hype about supermarkets and their competitive prices, essential commodities in your neighbourhood kirana shop are in most cases significantly lower.
A survey conducted by The Statesman shows that Big Bazaar and Spencer's are almost uniformly more expensive than the humble, round-the-corner grocer. The grocer will sell you a kilogram of arhar dal for Rs 48; supermarkets charge Rs 51 and 52 (see chart).
A grocer in Bentinck Street sells chana dal at Rs 40 per kilogram, whilst Spencer's charges Rs 45 per kg. Affirming that the cost of some commodities is higher in the retail shops, Mr. Praveen Dalal vice president (Eastern Zone) of Spencer's said that their products have been priced keeping in mind the competition. "We are aware that the price of some essential commodities is slightly higher than the wholesale market price, but we sell super quality products and so there is a variation in the price," said Mr Dalal.
But it isn't just pulses that cost more in the supermarkets; even branded goods such as tea and packaged basmati rice do. A grocer sells a 1-kg pack of India Gate basmati rice at Rs 80, but Mr. Dalal charges his customers Rs 98.
Engine brand mustard oil is sold by Big Bazaar and Spencer's at Rs 91 per kg; grocers sell it at Rs 87 and Rs 90. Popular brands of packaged tea are also dearer at the supermarkets, the difference being as much as Rs 10 in the case of a 225-gram packet of Brooke Bond Red Label.
Mr. Dalal said: "Our competitors are the other retail chains that have been set up in the city. So we have decided to open up more such retail outlets in the city soon." Rather pointedly, he added that Spencer's had never claimed in advertisements that its prices were lower than anyone.
Land acqusition and food security
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080726/jsp/bengal/story_9603853.jsp
Land acqusition going on at an alarming rate, food security at stake
Land trend alarming: Minister
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Calcutta, July 25: Around 1.2 lakh acres of farmland have been converted for industrial use in the past five years, the land minister told the Assembly today and described it as an “alarming trend’’.
Tabling the land and land reforms budget, Abdur Rezzak Mollah said: “Over the past five years, the amount of farmland that got converted for industrial use is about 1.2 lakh acres. That is something alarming and, if this trend continues, we are going to face serious problems in the future.”
The minister iterated his concern for food security.
The concern has become all the more serious in the CPM after the setbacks the party had to suffer in the panchayat polls in May, to a large extent because of farmland acquisition or the threat of it.
However, while voicing his concern over a possible food shortage in the future, Mollah also stressed “the need for industry in our state’’.
Acquisition notices have been issued for the takeover of about 25,000 acres in West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Burdwan and Purulia for steel plants to be set up by 10 industry groups.
“Objections are now being heard and the process (of acquisition) is on in all four districts,” the minister said.
The Statesman
http://thestatesman.org/page.arcview.php?date=2008-07-28&usrsess=1941188832483&clid=1&id=242437
Food for thoughtKOLKATA, July 27: Amidst widespread fears that food security in the state would come under threat owing to the LF government's industrialisation policy, a report prepared by the state land and land reforms department reveals that in fact only 9,000 acres of farm land in the state has been converted for setting up of industries over the last two years.
Of far more concern, in the context of food security, is the fact that some 15 lakh acres of farm land remain uncultivated in the state every year mainly due to the financial constraints of marginal farmers and bargadars, as per the report.
This apart, against just 9,000 acres of farm land that had been converted for setting up industries, the report reveals that a total of 1.20 lakh acres of farm land has been converted for non-agricultural use in the state, most of the conversion being done by the land-owners themselves for residential purposes. The local panchayats are also giving permission in this regard rampantly.
Officials of the land and land reforms department said though several questions have been raised about the industrialisation policy through acquisition of farm land, these other areas of concern are being overlooked.
"For example, about 15 lakh acres of farm land remain uncultivated in the state every year. The main reason behind this is financial constraint of the marginal farmers or bargadars. The banks also don't show keen interest in disbursing loans to bargadars or marginal farmers," said an official.
"This apart, it is not possible to carry out cultivation in a portion of farm land owing to natural disasters like floods. If steps are not initiated to arrest these issues, it could be a major problem for the state in future in terms of food security,” the official added.
Highlighting the rapid conversion of farm land for non-agricultural use as another cause of concern, the official pointed out: "The state has a total of 1,45,80,000 acres of farm land and if conversion of agricultural land continues at this rate, there would be a problem in future. And setting up of industries won't be the major reason behind this because only 9,000 acres of farm land has to converted for industrialisation so far.”
Monday, July 7, 2008
Statesman report about Under Development: Singur
CORRIGENDUM: " What the group has discovered is that only 100 acres of the land allocated for the project is being used for the factory building, the remaining acres will be used to set up a private township for the workers."
Citizens' Initiative wishes to modify this statement. What we wanted to get across about the space used by the Tata motors factory and the residential houses was much more conjectural than a categorical statement of fact. Our discussions with residents of Singur and experts have led us to conclude that the space for setting up the factory would perhaps be about 10% of the total walled area and that Singur is a much more strategically located area in terms of the already extant infrastructure than uncultivated areas in West Bengal. Also, though we have seen houses being built within the acquired space, it is not yet clear whether there will be a private township for the workers.
http://www.thestatesman.net/
Land of no return
Heidi Hagenlocher
Members of Citizens’ Initiative, comprising students from Jadavpur University, professors and activists, host an exhibition dedicated to Singur and Nandigram. They tell Heidi Hagenlocher it’s no use having a developed state if the people are not self-sufficient
What would you tell someone if they told you that you had to give up your land, along with your livelihood, for the betterment of your state?
For the people of Singur, they have had many opportunities to protest and little reason to celebrate.
But they are hard working, so they set up tea stands, do embroidery work, to earn a little income. It is a far cry from the harvest they used to yield, before they were told that a small-car factory would bring not only work for the people but development for the state.
The first time Citizens’ Initiative, a group made up of mostly English Literature students from Jadavpur University as well as professors and activists, went to Singur in Hooghly district it was on a fact-finding mission, to see for themselves how the construction of the Tata Motors small-car factory had affected people. After encountering the hospitality of the villagers and hearing some of their stories, members of the group were compelled to return.
The result is Under Development: Singur, a photography exhibit, coupled with a panel discussion and film festival that took place last weekend at Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre. A full report of the group’s findings from their visits to Singur and Nandigram from February to August 2008 will be available in the coming months.
“What is a very important part of this exhibition is the growing relationship between the students who come from such privileged background and these people... our efforts have that personal touch, these are not only photographs of burnt houses and bleeding people which is what comes out in the media, you know, sensational news but these are pictures of people leading their day to day lives,” said Madhura Chakraborty, one of the group members.
The photographs vividly demonstrate that there is no short-term solution to what now troubles the people of Singur ~ no matter which political party is in power. The cement has been poured, the walls have come up around the 997.11 acres of land allocated for the project, and the factory is being built, permanently damaging the once fertile land.
“They can’t get back that land and put it to any use. But most of them think that they’re going to get back the land and go back to cultivating it. We’ve encountered this in several cases and several people have told us now that it’s going to the Supreme Court we’re hoping to get back the land. I don’t think that’s an option for them… the Opposition is exploiting them in that sense,” Chakraborty said.
Members of the group first started discussing development issues after 2 December, 2006, when police officers and CPI-M cadres burnt the houses of Singur villagers who were opposing the land acquisition. Since they were students of English Literature, they invited guest speakers who were familiar with land development issues to educate them about what was happening in West Bengal. They started a blog called Development Dialogues, where they have also been diligently archiving all of the pieces published in local newspapers, national newspapers and at times in the foreign press about Singur and Nandigram. More people joined the group after the Citizens’ Silent Protest March that took place in Kolkata on 14 November 2007. After their first visit to Singur, the group members have been trying to find ways to help the affected people, particularly those in the village of Dobadi, where 95 Scheduled Cast families, landless labourers, live.
“We found out that they haven’t received anything (compensation)… most of them are now without work since they only have farming skills and most of the cultivatable land fell within the boundary walls and they weren’t being allowed to cultivate it, so we started planning doing something for them to help them generate some income for them,” Chakraborty said. At one point the group collected more than 270 kgs of rice and various other food staples from their friends and families but that was only enough for a couple of meals for them. On another occasion they set up a medical camp.
“It’s long-term reconstruction that we’re seriously interested in because it’s pretty clear to us that the CPI-M has done a pretty poor job in Singur, in Nandigram, in several other places of Bengal but the Trinamul Congress has done little less other than raise political capital out of that situation. It has not helped,” one of the group’s photographers, Amrita Dhar said. Since some of the
“If the government takes away their subsistence, it should be able to provide alternative means. If it doesn’t, it’s obviously not doing its job. To my mind it’s not compensation to say, look this factory has come up and it will give employment by the hundreds, by the thousands. What kind of employment, is my question,” Dhar said.
What the group has discovered is that only 100 acres of the land allocated for the project is being used for the factory building, the remaining acres will be used to set up a private township for the workers. They are convinced that this is why the state government chose this fertile land for the factory site, since it is only a 40-minute drive away from Kolkata, instead of fallow land in Purulia, situated much further away from the metropolis. Since the villagers outside the wall have always been farmers, they know that they would only be given menial jobs in the factory, and they have made it clear that they do not want to become servants for the factory workers.
“There are real people involved with real dreams, with real aspirations, to whom it is not enough to say that ‘Your state is developing’. It is no use to me to have my state very, very developed if I am not self-sufficient any longer when I was. If I had land, I tilled it, I had housing for my son and daughter, I was happy. Right now I have nothing and my state is very developed,” Dhar said.
