Plan panel member questions Tatas approach in Singur

Amid confrontation between Tatas and the West Bengal government over the Singur issue, Plan panel member Arun Maira today questioned the group's approach saying corporates should be careful in what sort of land is acquired and how it is converted for industrial purposes.

"There is a question about what sort of land (and) by what process you are going to convert that land for industrial use," Maira told reporters at a Ficci function referring to the problems faced by Tata Motors at Singur.

The Planning Commission member said the blame for Tata Motors moving out of West Bengal should not be entirely put on either the state government or the Centre.

"Jindal's have put up things there, they said they didn't have any problem in getting the land there. If Jindal's can find enough (land) to build up the steel plant in West Bengal so why could Tata's not find enough land to put up a car factory?" he added.

Maira also said a common ground was required so that industrialisation can happen while keeping the interest of farmers intact, as pointed out by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"She is saying that the process of dealing with the people, whose land you are taking, needs to be improved so that there is more fairness in it. Don't take the most productive agricultural land," he said.

Tata Motors had pulled out of the Nano project in October 2008 after a violent protest in Singur against land acquisition spearheaded by Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

Last week the state assembly had passed Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011.

The Calcutta High Court today refused to hear Tata Motors' petition ex-parte challenging the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011.

The High Court has directed Tata Motors counsel Samaraditya Pal to serve notice to the state government.

The Act scrapped the previous Left Front government's deal with Tata Motors and provided for return of land to the unwilling farmers.