The issue had compelled Ratan Tata to pull out from West Bengal with the ambitious Nano project.
Referring to his September 2008 meeting at Raj Bhawan with Mamata Banerjee, the CM said, he is still ready to return 100 acres of land to the unwilling farmers and want an automobile industry on the abandoned 997-acre Singur land.
“Tata did not bear any loss, the state had to lose. The youth who were trained to work in the industry were the worst sufferers. At the time, when the issue of land return was discussed at the Raj Bhawan, I had said it is possible to return 100 acres. I still stand by this. It is impossible to return 400 acres, because an automobile unit with ancillaries cannot come up on the rest of the land if 400 acres are returned,” the CM said at a party gathering to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the CPM Bengali mouthpiece Ganashakti publication.
Bhattacharjee said that according to a 2010 estimate, rural reforms in the state have led to creation of a rural market worth Rs 27,000 crore. “Strong land movement followed by land reforms done by the Left Front government has placed us in power. But can we stop here? Certainly not. So, a plan for industrialisation was designed. I still believe this is the way for the state’s further development.”
CPM sources said Bhattacharjee chose to raise industrialisation issue as he feels that not only Mamata but even a section of the Left party leaders and ranks had opposed his industrialisation plan.
According to them, the CM is trying to raise the issue once again prior to the Assembly elections.
“We should move ahead with industrialisation. Not Ma Mati Manush, we should say Silpa Krishi and Manush (industry, agriculture and people),” the CM said.