The Tata small car project at Singur holds the key to an estimated Rs 50,000 crore investment into West Bengal, said the state's industries minister Nirupam Sen on Monday. Sen maintained that West Bengal would get substantial investment within a year of the small car project starting off. But he agreed that the local opposition to the project would have to end first.
Criticising those opposed to the industrialisation of the state, Sen said those opposing the project had simply refused to listen to the appeal of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya."I did not expect that a manufacturing unit would be opposed by opposition parties. Earlier we used to be attacked by the same people who said that despite being in power for 30 years, we have failed attract a single automobile manufacturer," said Sen.
He explained that the state government had managed to bring Tata Motors to West Bengal when the Tatas had almost decided to set up the plant at Uttrakhand due to fiscal sops the state offered. "We managed to match them. I cannot divulge the financial details," said Sen and added, "I have taken a calculated risk." He said the officers in his ministry worked hard for six months with the Tata Motors management to hammer out a mutually acceptable agreement.
Sen also pointed that the state government has already tied up an investment of about Rs 2,000-Rs 5,000 crore for 2007-08, which is about Rs 3,000 crore more than last year. Further, a number of new ventures are in pipeline that amount to more than Rs 50,000 crore. This is in addition to the total investment of Rs 50,000 crore spread across various industries that have started production, he said.
When quizzed about the steps taken by the government to improve the investment climate and promote industrialization following the strong opposition, in Nandigram and Singur, Sen said that the thrust is to build the consensus from the lowest level. "We have asked the District Magistrates to engage people from the lowest level of the administration to build a consensus on industrialisation," said Sen.
We are sure Mamata doesnt agree. Well for her, the govt. which has been ruling Bengal for 30 years by will of the people are fools and do not know how to run the state and specifically do not understand what is best for the people. Well, its time you read the pulse of the people Mamata.
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6 comments:
By the time now, Mamata is utterly confused about her every moves.She just wants to oppose for the sake of opposition and thats what she is doing without even getting into the deep of what is wrong and right.A query - if she would have been in CM's chair today,wouldnt she be inviting Tatas to invest?Its high time that the people of West Bengal must pull up their socks and provide the support to Buddhadeb bhattacharjee's Government and realise that this is the initial and crucial step for Bengal to shine in the glory of development.
Ratan Tata should be considered Henry Ford of India, his (Ford’s) ‘T’ model revolutionized the auto industry, the ambitious ‘Rs 1 lakh car’ project can create the same wonders for India, where every common man’s dream to own a car can come true…
Before the IT industry made, ESOPspopular, a vehicle manufacturer was doing its bit to keep the flock together at the Tata Motors’ Pimpri plant near Pune. Now, the drive is on to replicate the Pimpri effort at Singur, where the company is planning to set up its ambitious ‘Rs 1 lakh car’ plant.
The unique cooperative movement—employees were encouraged to let their family members form societies and manufacture everything from cables for Tata vehicles to chapattis for the canteen—began in 1973 with six women and now has over 1,200 members. So, it hardly comes as a surprise that even before the Singur land is handed over to Tata Motors in West Bengal for its prestigious small car project, it has begun to identify stakeholders—locals, women, NGOs and farmer bodies, including panchayats—to create more jobs in the community.
There’s no reason why Singur cannot become a Pune or a Jamshedpur. While the Singur plant will initially employ 2,000 persons, it is expected to create employment in excess of 10,000 jobs among vendors and service providers near the plant. Once the plant is commissioned in 2008, there should be more jobs for family members of employees.
If even half of the goals set for the project are achieved, it will not only revitalize the industrial environment of the state, but could also have a social upliftment effect on the community around Singur. Now it’s on Singur people to decide, do they need development or still getting fantasized looking pictures of developed nations…
I think people of Bengal should thank Buddhadeb Bhattacharya for bringing such a huge project in the state, as this will change the entire industrial scenario in West Bengal. It is very difficult to get such project as lots of States keep on trying to attract large projects. It seems that the hype created by the media and few political parties is to divert the mind of people because they know that the success of this project will ultimately uplift the standard of living of the communities in the surrounding area by generating thousands of new employment.
It is also a good sign that Government has open minds for ideas and has flexible approach. This Government is open for the consultation, ready to incorporate people views and amend the laws as per the requirement of masses. I wish that people of Bengal think again and get united for the Singur project as this project will make their dreams come true in future.
If Tata company enters into Bengal, this will definitely change the entire industrial scenario.Tata is also ready to provide the alternate ways for the farmers in Singur. So let us welcome Tata so that it create better employment opurtunities to general public and also to singur farmers.
The irresponsibility shown by the Opposition in West Bengal is glaring. Not even a fool would have rejected the Tata Motors car project. The compensations offered are trendsetters in the country. With the Chief Minister today reiterating that 954 acre of land has been acquired for the project why such a brouhaha is being created is beyond our knowledge. Even if one agress to the figure being quoted by Mamata in this regard, we feel that she should act respnsibly, undertand what the Government is trying to do, make the people understand about the benefit of the project and allow the project to go ahead.
Mamata should definitely give a chance for the project to come up. She has an entire lifetime to protest against the Government if the project fails. Till then just let the project happen and leave all of us in peace.
Ashutosh Sinha
It's very unfortunate that despite major industries' minister making it clear that Tata small car project holds the key to attracting Rs 50,000 cr into West Bengal, Mamata is not relenting from her intransigent stand. It appears that she is on a mission to scuttle the process of industrialisation launced by the West Bengal government at any cost. It's high time she realises that she should act as a responsible opposition leader in the best intersts of the people of West Bengal and also of the country at large.
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