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The Tata group has agreed to hand over the land alloted for its abandoned Nano project at Singur 'if there were meaningful negotiation', West Bengal industry minister Nirupam Sen said in Kolkata on Wednesday.
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.
Soon after the BHEL backed out, the state government came to know about interest of the Railways for setting up a coach factory, Sen said.
The chief secretary then wrote to Railway Board chairman S S Khurana seeking a proposal for setting up the factory.
The Railway Board chairman expressed interest in principle to set up the unit if the land was available, Sen said.
The Railway Board had also written on setting up the factory on 600 acre, and that the remaining 400 acre be returned to farmers who unwillingly parted with their land for the Tata project, Sen told the house.
The state government then urged in a second letter to the Railways to send an official team for inspecting the land and talk with the state government on a firm proposal.
The Railways, Sen said, replied that it would not inspect the land till the state government confirmed that it was available. Asked if he was willing to talk directly with railway minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue, Sen said, "I am always available for talks, but they (Trinamool Congress) don't speak to us."
To another question, Sen wondered how the Railways would return 400 acre to farmers. "Railways has acquired the maximum quantity of land in the country. They must know better if it is possible to return the land. There is a Supreme Court verdict on land acquisition."
Image: Tata Nano