Tata Motors on Monday held at the Calcutta High Court that it had not “abandoned” the small car factory site at Singur; but was compelled to relocate following an “escalation of violence” (against the company) and the “inability of the State to provide a conducive environment” for industry.
The West Bengal Government in the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011 had put the onus on the auto major for abandoning the project.
“The question of not utilising the land cannot arise. This was done. But the product could not be launched from the State,” Tata Motors' counsel, Mr Samaraditya Pal, said. The auto major had filed a petition on June 22 challenging the Constitutional validity of the Act.
Mr Pal held that the auto major had in its communication to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) – the lessor – in September 2010, mentioned that it was considering an alternative “usage”, provided it was satisfied that “a peaceful and congenial environment” exists in the State.
“It was said that we (Tatas) will consider an alternative usage if satisfied that a peaceful and congenial environment exists in the State. However, we are not yet convinced that such a situation exist,” Mr Pal quoted the communication saying.
He added that the auto major had in the same letter mentioned that it was in talks with the then “Chief Minister” for “alternative use of the land” in Singur.
According to Mr Pal, “The Government which was responsible for maintaining law and order was unable to do so thereby compelling the company to relocate at a place where the environment will be conducive to the setting up of industry,” Mr Pal maintained.