Skidding into trouble

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At the time of crisis, turn to India: KelkarEconomic crisis needs bigger response: ShourieInflation dips to 8.90%, RBI may cut ratesCMIE revises down economic growth to 8.2 pct

In 1994, around 120 farmers of Magarpatta, Pune, already at risk of losing their land to urbanisation, went to the Maharashtra government, offering to pool their combined holding of 400 acres to build a self-sustained township. A decade later, Magarpatta was a cyber city, housing some of the biggest names in software, and, what’s been a win-win for the land-losers, each of the farmers holds a stake directly proportionate to their land holdings. The example of Magarpatta has been invoked time and again when a proposed industrial project has got caught in land tangles.

At the heart of the land crisis at Singur — and the whole industrial resurgence in West Bengal — is a plain and simple numbers game, which goes beyond the fortunes of the Nano project. Consider this: Riding on the potential in sectors like steel and manufacturing, West Bengal attracted investment announcements worth Rs 87,037 crore between January and June, 2008-09. For such huge investments, the government will need to acquire a lot of land. But only 1% of West Bengal’s total land area is fallow. The government will have to use a chunk of agricultural land (at least 60,000 ha) for industrial purposes. For the year 2007-08, and up to January 31, 2008, the government has acquired 2,303 acres for different projects.

Singur in the spotlight

Situated in the fertile Hooghly district, Singur is lush all year round. It’s particularly known for its potatoes and paddy. The resistance to the small car project has been going on for two years now, ever since it was announced. Particularly rigid has been Opposition leader Mamata Banerjee, aided by disparate groups, who insist that 400 of the 997 acres acquired for the unit should be returned to landlosers, because they were forcibly taken.

State industry minister Nirupam Sen admits that 2,251 people had not accepted compensation and that they collectively hold 305 acres. Sen says 10,852 people have accepted their compensation cheques. If on the one side there are resisting farmers, on the other are those hanging on to the promise of jobs. Tata Motors, which is setting up the plant at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore including Rs 100 crore for the land, and its ancillaries have promised at least 4,500 jobs.

Land tangle