I am in receipt of few mails in connection with Singur and Tata's Lakhtakia
Nano.
I address them together here in general. All is not over. The real stage
will start on and after 15th of September, when the four member committee
decisions are submitted and government will have to take corrective steps. I
am afraid, the will power with the government of West Bengal is not there to
deal with tatas the way they have dealt with the farmers of Singur. We
should not be surprised if we see the next stage of agitation any day after
15th deadline.
Certain points have been raised with respect to my statement in the matter
of Singur and Tata's Nano factory; Hope this mail clears the doubts of
confusion. My experience by spending few days at Singur in the last week and
also before, leads me to believe that the farmers of Singur have been forced
to make sacrifices to pave way for the greedy industrial houses who laid
their eagle eyes on their farm land. In the light of all the hue and cry
made in the name of positioning of ancillary units, we need answers to the
following.
1. Is it not true that Tata group chairman Ratan Tata announces small car
project at Singur on
the day when Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was sworn in the Chief Minster of W.
Bengal? Is it a mere coincidence? The news published in Economic Times of
May 18, 2008 will throw more light on the same. Why government is so much
liberal to a fifth generation private industrial house?
2. Gujarat Auto makers are going to supply auto parts to Nano. This has been
published in some magazines about a year back that stated that engine and
other parts for Nano are to be manufactured in Gujarat. "Delay in project
worries auto parts makers in Gujarat" and also Gujarat auto parts makers see
reliable partner in Tata;
Economic Times, India - 3 Sep 2008.
Profit, loss and price pressure apart we are always with TATA and can cater
to any of its facility either in Singur, Pantnagar, or even if they choose
Pune ...BOM:505712
3. I also share with you all what Mr. Ratan Tata has stated in a large
full page interview that was published on 07-02-2007 in the Main daily news
paper of Italy* **IL CORRIERE DELLA SERA**. *
*Interviewed by Danilo Taino*, who previously published a couple of
enthusiastic articles about what he calls "capitalismo d'assalto"
("energetic capitalism") featuring 'new Shining India'.
* *
*And here is the crucial question: *
* *
*Danilo Taino** : **"What about the production facilities?" *
*Ratan Tata : "We will produce it for the 50% in a new plant in
West Bengal (where there are some political problems that Tata minimizes -
the interviewer is accurate enough… to add). *
*For the remaining 50% we will encourage the creation of a number of small
assembly shops, low cost, all over India. This will be our contribution to
the entrepreneurship among the youth of India."*
* *
When half of the cars are to be assembled at many locations in India, the
very logic of Ratan Tata to have land for ancillary units close to the plant
in the same premises sounds hollow. He is not ready to go to the other side
of the road opposite to their plant for ancillary units but is silent on the
assembly lines that will be set up all over the country.
Secondly, when the auto parts makers from Gujarat are already lined up, the
hue and cry of setting up of ancillary within the premises blasts off and
that the need of the land of 1000 acres also comes in for close scrutiny
that needs to be reexamined by experts and definitely not by Mr. Nirumpam
Sen and party (proper word should be GANG in the prevailing circumstances)
who have proved at Singur that they are the bunch of most inefficient
persons.
4. All noises are made in the name of creating employment for the youth of
West Bengal. Fine. Where is the exact figure of employment that will be
created at Singur plant? Government of West Bengal must issue a public
statement as to how many of the local youth will be given permanent
employment in the Singur plant as well paid staff and not as a poorly paid
daily wage earner under a contractor, as is the habit of the house of Tatas
and other industrial houses. As per a report, the final figure which we
believe is less than 500 persons.
5. As per our information, there will be no revenue generation for next
thirty years
as liberal Monetary concessions have been granted as sops to the Tata
Motors,
besides giving the 997 acres land virtually free of cost. Government of West
Bengal
should make a public statement what will be the revenue generated and
deposited
in to the treasury of the government of West Bengal each quarter wise, with
the
production and sales of Nano from Singur Plant. [This has becomes necessary
to
know after we get the news that half of the Nano cars will be assembled and
sold
from different part of the country. In that case, why the farmers of Singur
are
forced to make sacrifices for the employment that is to be created
elsewhere.]
6. Why market rates of the land is not paid to farmers? The payments made to
the farmers is about Rs. 10 to Rs. 11 Lakh per acre against the market price
of over Rs. 65 lakh per acre now and all set to touch 80 lakh and above in
near future. Mind it, it is not only because of Nano Car factory but because
it is located on the main express way just on the outskirts of Kolkatta
where any one can reach within shortest possible time. Large areas of land
have been purchased by real estate / property dealers at market prices where
huge housing complexes are proposed.
7. Where is the home work of the District Collector? District Collector has
to declare that he/she had no choice and no other option than to acquire the
particular pieces of land while acquiring land under colonial century old
land acquisition Act. I charge that without doing any homework as is
mandatory under the provisions of law, the land has been acquired, dancing
to the tunes of a private industrialist who has managed to win the trust of
the state government even at knowing fully well that the actions are going
to do irreparable losses to the farmers of Singur.
Unfortunately some ignorant persons who are in the habit of talking Tom,
Dick and Harry to accuse others with both eyes closed fails to understand
the real issues concerned. Those who doubt the capability of farmers of
Singur are living in day dreams. By raising fingers at their poverty and
capability, those persons have insulted the farmers of Singur who are
struggling to repossess their farm land that is under the clutches of the
largest investor of the country.
Those farmers may be poor, illiterate but are capable enough to take their
own decisions, and knows much better what is good and what is bad for them.
Farmers of Kalinga Nagar, Nandigram and also at Singur have shown to the
world, what they can do once they are firm on determination and get united.
Those who see Tatas Nano car project as the magic wand to solve the
employment problem are living in a fool's paradise. Singur plant will
generate employment to maximum 500 persons. How many will loose their
livelihood may be studied by going to Singur.
Pravin Patel
Human Rights Activist
Director, Tribal Welfare Society
PUBLIC EYE SWISS AWARD 2008 – NOMINEE
