The Hindu Business Line : Fears of Tata Motors pulling out of Singur loom large

The company is also believed to have moved out some critical equipment from the site. However, no confirmation was available from the company, which maintained that there has been no change in the situation.

Official sources in the State Government said it would not be possible to retain the Nano project in the State if the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, continues with her agitation programme and sticks to her demand for the return of 300 acres of land from within the project area to the “unwilling farmers”.

Ms Banerjee, accompanied by senior Trinamool Congress leaders, today met the West Bengal Governor, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, and requested him to ensure that the State Government should “operationalise” the agreement that was entered into on September 7. She charged the government with going back on its commitment and announcing a “one-sided package” that was unacceptable.

She flayed the government for not wanting to find a solution to the Singur issue and urged the Centre to take steps against the State as prescribed under Article 355 of the Constitution of India. Article 355 states that it shall be the “duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbances and to ensure that the governance of the State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution”.

Ms Banerjee said that, during her meeting with the Governor, she gathered the impression that he wanted a quick solution to the Singur problem while keeping intact the farm-factory balance. “We also want a solution. Singur can become a model of how agriculture and industry can co-exist,” she said. She also stressed the need to maintain “farm-factory balance” in Singur.

Tata Motors suspended work on the plant on September 2 and said it was working out a detailed plan to relocate plant and machinery. Industry sources believe that the Nano will roll out from the company’s Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, facility. The company has said that it will launch the low-cost Nano in the quarter beginning October.

The company has been scouting around for alternative sites, with officials looking at possible locations in Karnataka and Gujarat. A team led by Mr Ravi Kant, Managing Director, met the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, last week, after which the Karnataka Government said it will seek an appointment with Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, to take forward the company’s proposal.