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Farmers suspend Tata land protest

Sun Sep 07 22:30:51 UTC 2008

Nano car plant protest suspended

Mon Sep 08 07:32:24 UTC 2008

Farmers in eastern India blocking construction work at a Tata Motors plant have suspended their protests.

Opposition groups in the Indian state of West Bengal who have been blocking construction work at a Tata Motors plant have suspended their protests.

The move came after the government of West Bengal state promised to return some of the land near Calcutta given to Tata to build the plant.The move came after the state government promised to return some land at the plant site that is owned by the government.
India's top vehicle maker stopped work last week on the plant where it planned to build the Nano, reportedly the world's cheapest car.Tata Motors stopped work last week on the plant where it plans to build the Nano, the world's cheapest car.
Tata had threatened to move production elsewhere if the protests continued.Tata had threatened to move production elsewhere if the protests continued.
"The government has taken the decision to respond to the demand of those farmers who have not received compensation," said Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the governor of West Bengal."The government has taken the decision to respond to the demand of those farmers who have not received compensation," said Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the governor of West Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the protests, described the agreement as a big victory.'Big victory'

Exclusive look at the Tata Nano 		Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the main opposition Trinamul Congress party leading the protests, described the agreement as a big victory.
A committee is to decide the details of the land return next week.A committee is to decide the details of the land return next week.
Tata did not take part in the talks between the West Bengal government and the protesters.Tata did not take part in the talks between the West Bengal government and the protesters.
The company is unlikely to be happy with the prospect of losing land from its site, says the BBC's Rahul Tandon in Calcutta.The government agreed to return the maximum possible land within the plant site outside Calcutta to "unwilling farmers" who were against acquisition of their farms.
The Nano is due to be launched in October, but with many issues still unresolved that may not happen, adds our correspondent.The opposition groups, led by the Trinamul Congress party, agreed to the government's proposal to provide the rest from around the plant site.
The car is expected to cost 100,000 Indian rupees ($2,500).
Exclusive look at the Tata Nano
Tata Motors, India's biggest vehicle makers, will retain 650 acres of land for the plant. The ancillary factories for the plant will get the 290 acres allotted to them.
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya said that the government had some land inside the plant site where it had planned some commercial parks and a green patch.
"That land may be given to the farmers," he said.
The West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi said the agreement was a "victory for all, for industry and agriculture, for the government and the opposition".
Tata had faced violent protests and political opposition over the acquisition of farmland for the factory in Singur in the state of West Bengal.
Tata's owner, Ratan Tata, has said he will consider moving production of the Nano out of West Bengal if unrest around the plant continues.
Tata plans to launch the Nano later this year, priced at about $2,500 (£1,370) from the plant in West Bengal.
India's rapid industrialization in recent years has been the backbone of the country's strong economic growth.
But this process has provoked a backlash since the majority of Indians still earn their living off the land.
The policy of creating special economic zones to attract new investment has provided a focal point for the anger of poorer, rural families who rely on their land for food and income.