Former Chief Minister of West Bengal and Left leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away yesterday at his Kolkata residence, after suffering from a lung disease. The late politician’s career is often associated with the case of Tata Nano Singur controversy. The citizens of Singur expressed their thoughts on the demise and what could have been if things were different.
In 2006, under the leadership of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the then CM of West Bengal, the state government had allocated 1,200 acres of land in Singur to the Tata Group. The company and the government aimed to implement SEZ projects in the region, for the manufacturing of Nano cars.
It was the beginning of the state’s ruling government’s downfall, as the project was marred with controversies regarding land acquisition. As per reports, the state government came under fire for citing the 1894 Land Acquisition Act rule, which was used to take over 997 acres of land for the Tata project. So, the project gained a lot of criticism from activists as well as the opposition parties of the state, eventually being shut down.
Local18 reports that 13 years have passed since the controversy, leaving the citizens of Singur hopeless. One of the residents of the place admitted to the regrets they feel, in a conversation with Local18. According to him, the project could have proven to be a developmental force in the state and the region, opening job opportunities for the citizens.
As per the reports of the Economic Times, the farmers were handed over the lands which were acquired for the Tata project. Now, they are forced to depend on the government and petty jobs to make a livelihood. Many even feel that the current government failed to keep its promise since the lands remain uncultivable.
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