Tatas to return land if 'meaningful negotiations' held: Sen

The Tata group has agreed to hand over the land alloted for its abandoned Nano project at Singur "if there was meaningful negotiation", West Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said here today.

He told reporters in his Assembly chamber that the Tatas have been informed about the Railways expressing interest in setting up a railway coach manufacturing factory of international standard at Singur.

"The Tatas have no objection to return the land if there is meaningful negotiation," he said without elaborating.

The Tatas had earlier stated that it could return the land if compensation was offered.

Tata Motors last year shifted its small car Nano project from Singur to Sanand in Gujarat after protest by local farmers and political parties.

Earlier, replying to a question in the Assembly, Sen said that the offer by the Railways was "a light at the end of the tunnel".

"This is one issue at least on which we can reach a consensus and this issue needs a political solution," he said.

Dwelling on Tata Motors failing to set up unit and BHEL backtracking from sending up a thermal power plant at Singur, Sen said that since the sole purpose of the state government was to set up an industrial unit on the land, the government would be happy if any party comes forward.