Singur verdict indicates incorrect land acquisition procedure

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) The Supreme Court verdict onSingur land acquisition today indicated that adoption ofincorrect procedure for the purpose had led to protest bylocals there and prompted shifting of the Tata Motors Ltd(TML) project, which was part of an effort aimed at tacklingunemployment in West Bengal. The apex court in its judgement noted the list ofventures and investments that would have come in and aroundSingur if the acquisition of land was done by following theinquiry as contemplated under the provisions of the LandAcquisition Act by the Land Acquisition Collector (LAC). Further, a bench of Justices V Gopala Gowda and ArunMishra, also held that the LAC has not assigned reasons in hisreport for rejecting the objections raised by the landowners/cultivators and the decisions were taken to reject theobjections without application of mind. In the beginning of the judgement, the bench traced thesequence of events which started with the formulation of anindustrial policy by the state government to set up automobileindustries in West Bengal to cater to the needs of the peopleand solve the problem of unemployment there. It noted that Tata Motors Ltd (TML) participated indiscussions with the State Government regardinginfrastructural needs of the project and proposed for 1000acres of land out of which 75 per cent would be for it and 25per cent for vendor park with power and water facilities. TML had also sought allotment of land for schooling freeof cost and for a township at half the rate of factory land. The record note of discussion between all parties showedthat the project was looking at a direct investment of Rs 650crore in the plant and machinery and IT infrastructure by TML.Besides this, the company would have also invested Rs 176crore in factory building, Rs 150 crore in township in Singur. Record showed that the employment potential of thisproject was assessed at 1,800 employees in direct employmentby TML and 4,700 employees through vendors and serviceproviders. Later, when the locals of the area started protestingagainst the land acquisition and setting up of the factory andseveral incidents of blockade, protests and violence werereported, TML informed the state police in November 2008, thatit was suspending its operations and relocated its plant toSanad in Gujarat. PTI AG SKV MNL SJK RKSARC