The Hindu : Front Page : Tata Motors starts work at Singur

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Monday, Jan 22, 2007
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Tata Motors starts work at Singur

Special Correspondent

Protesters set fire to a portion of the fence

KOLKATA:

In the midst of political controversies and protests, the Tata Motors on Sunday began construction work of its car manufacturing plant at Singur in West Bengal after a brief ceremony and distribution of sweets.

However, hours later, a group of people destroyed a portion of the fence at the site.

By the time the police reached the spot, those responsible escaped.

The incident took place after some leaders of the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, headed by the Trinamool Congress that is campaigning against the setting up of the plant, gathered near Beraberi.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr.P.C. are in force in the area.

Protesters made an attempt last week to storm the site. They fled after trying to uproot the poles and damaging a portion of the fence.

A shame: Mamata

Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee, who is spearheading the movement against the acquisition of farmland for the project, said the move to lay the project's foundation when prohibitory orders were in force was "a shame" and had left her "deeply distressed."

"The Tata officials have laid the foundation stone in Singur on the graves of the livelihood of 24,000 farmers," she said in a statement.

She is convalescing at her residence here after leaving a nursing home where she was admitted on December 28-29 after breaking her 25-day hunger strike in protest against the alleged forcible acquisition of farmland for the project.

PHOTO: ARUNANGSU ROY CHOWDHURY

WORK STARTS: Labourers at the Tata Motors small car project in Singur, West Bengal, after the "Bhumi Puja" ceremony was conducted on Sunday.

Ms. Banerjee accused the State Government of "deceiving her" by allowing the ceremony without discussing the land acquisition issue with her.

She had called off her fast in response to requests by the President, the Prime Minister and the West Bengal Governor, and in view of the assurance given by the State Government of holding discussions, she added.

Officials of the Tata Motors and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation were present on the occasion. The civil construction for the plant was being initiated by the Tata Motors, a spokesperson of the company said.Through its contractors and sub-contractors, the Tata Motors would employ people from the Singur area on various unskilled and skilled jobs as per the project's needs.

Employment

The project is expected to create employment in excess of 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The first car is expected to roll out of the factory in 2008.

PTI reports:

``We have started the construction work by performing "bhoomi puja." Initially, it will take some time but we will speed up the work,'' M. B. Kulkarni, General Manager (Construction) of Tata Motors in Singur said.

Director (Industries) of the West Bengal Government M. V. Rao, overseeing the entire project, told PTI that work to construct the Rs 1,000 crore plant started well.

"Land not yet handed over"

Mr. Rao said although the Government was yet to hand over the land to Tata Motors officially, the company was permitted to start initial phases of construction work.

The formal handover of the land would take place in one or two weeks, he added.

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