Process to get back Tata land at Singur has begun: WB govt

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has begun the formalities for taking back the land it had acquired for Tata Motors for its small car project in Singur, a senior official said.

"Yes, we have started the formalisation process," state Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told newsmen this evening.

"When a land is leased out for a certain purpose and it is not fulfilled, then we have to think of alternatives."

The state government acquired about 997 acre of land at Singur for Tata Motors for the Nano car project. The Tatas, however, shifted the project to Sanand in Gujarat following an agitation by farmers led by Opposition Trinamool Congress.

After the Tatas shifted their plant, the state government invited BHEL to set up a thermal power plant at the site, but after its representatives visited the site, BHEL declined the proposal saying that the quantum of land available was inadequate for the project.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed willingness to set up a coach factory if the land was released from the Tatas and handed over to the railways.