The Hindu : Front Page : Limited clarity on outcome of talks: Tata Motors

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Tuesday, Sep 09, 2008
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Limited clarity on outcome of talks: Tata Motors

Special Correspondent

Managing Director says the reported agreement will leave them in a disadvantageous position

KOLKATA: Tata Motors expressed its distress on Monday at the “limited clarity” on the outcome of Sunday’s talks between the State government and the leadership of the just ended Trinamool Congress-led agitation outside the Singur site.

Tata Motors Limited, which suspended work at the site on September 2, “is obliged to continue the suspension of construction and commissioning work at the Nano plant” in view of the limited clarity on the outcome of the discussions, a company spokesperson said in a statement.

It said that the company’s stand on suspension of work would be reviewed only if it was “satisfied that the viability of the project is not being impinged upon, the integral nature of the mother plant and our ancillary units is being maintained and all stakeholders are committed to developing a long-term congenial environment for smooth operations of the plant in Singur.”

Tata Motors also sought a clarification from the State government on the decisions taken at the discussions. It said the remark attributed by the media to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee that between 200 and 300 acres from the project area would be returned to “unwilling” farmers and the vendor park shifted to a site across the highway was confusing. In a letter to the Industries Minister, Tata Motors Managing Director Ravi Kant reiterated that the integral nature of the auto-cluster spread over 1,000 acres was fundamental to the project.

“You can appreciate that we are distressed by the reported agreement [arrived at Sunday’s talks] that will leave us in a disadvantageous position,” Mr. Kant wrote. He sought a clarification from Mr. Sen “to enable us to take an appropriate decision.”

Mr. Sen told journalists that he would reply to Mr. Kant assuring him that the government would proceed on the basis of its commitment given to the company that the mother plant and the vendor park would remain intact.

He said the objective of Sunday’s discussions was to determine the extent of land that could be acquired from within the project area for handing over to land losers and yet ensure that the mother plant and the vendor park remained an integrated whole. The government agreed to a meeting with the agitators because it wanted a congenial atmosphere in the Singur area, he said.

A source said that the company was not consulted before the agreement was finalised. The integral nature of the mother plant and the ancillary unit was sacrosanct. Ms. Banerjee refused to comment on the Tata Motors statement. Sunday’s talks had resulted in a final agreement that said the maximum land would be provided to the land losers from within the project site. “It is very much clear; there is no room for confusion.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said that the government was doing its best to ensure that the project stays in Singur.

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