Prime Minister Manmohan Singh might have expressed hope that the row in Singur over the land purchase for Tata Motors' [Get Quote] small car plant would be resolved, but the CPI (M) brass does not see the stalled project being revived.

As Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee continues to struggle for the return of 300 acres to the farmers, Politburo member Prakash Karat said, "Whatever is to be done, is being done by the West Bengal government. But nothing is happening," indicating that the state government had already taken all possible steps to keep the project in the state.

According to party sources, the situation is more or less beyond repair. "We can forcibly remove Banerjee's agitators from Singur within a few hours. But it seems the Tatas have developed cold feet. After whatever has happened over the last few weeks, it is almost impossible to convince the Tatas to stay back in Bengal and restart the Nano project," said a central committee leader of the party.

On the PM's statement, Karat said on October 2, "What can the prime minister do in this situation? Can he ask Mamata Banerjee to withdraw her agitation?"

Meanwhile, Tarun Das, chief mentor, Confederation of Indian Industry, said, "The situation in Singur is unfortunate and the solution to the present standoff lies with Mamata Banerjee who is representing the agitators and protestors."

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would meet Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata on October 3 to discuss the Singur issue.