WB govt agrees Cal HC suggestion to discuss Singur with TML

The West Bengal government today said it could sit with Tata Motors Ltd (TML) to discuss possible solutions for the Singur land issue after being asked by the Calcutta High Court if this was possible.

Pointing out that the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011 was meant for only one company, Justice IP Mukerji asked Advocate General Anindya Mitra whether the government and TML could sit together and agree on a compromise.

Mitra answered that an arbitration process could be started between the two parties if it was agreeable, and a possible solution could be looked into.

Justice Mukerji asked the parties to explore this option, while asking the Advocate General to continue his arguments in the meantime on the TML challenge of the constitutionality of the Singur Act.

The state government took back possession of the Singur land leased to Tata Motors on June 21 after passing the Act.

Mitra submitted that TML was holding on to the land at Singur, where it was to make its Nano car, to create pressure on the government to extract as much compensation as possible.

He asked why else would the company spend Rs one crore per month to hold the land, if not to extract extra compensation.

Mitra submitted that on September 10, 2010, TML had written to West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation that it would leave the land if it gets compensation, which proved that the company had abandoned the land.

The matter was adjourned till tomorrow, when Mitra would continue his submission.