Did not abandon Singur project: Tata to HC

Wondering why,in the last three years,the WBIDC did not ask Tata Motors as to why the company left the site,Mitra said the Singur Act was introduced only to terminate the lease between the company and and corporation.

During the course of arguments,the Tata counsel informed the High Court about the order passed by the Supreme Court restraining the state government from returning land to farmers.

Justice Soumitra Pal then asked Mitra to submit a copy of the Supreme Court order. Mitra said that he would place a copy of the order soon.

In the evening,he told mediapersons that a copy of the order was not available and it would be placed before the court on Thursday.

On Tuesday,the counsels of the state government had alleged that the Tata Motors’ petition challenging the Act suppressed lot of facts and on that ground,it was not maintainable.

Mitra admitted about the suppression of some facts but at the same time explained the reasons. He said it was mainly because the government served a notice to the company and pasted the notice at the Singur site late at night. Later,Tata Motors filed an supplimentary affidavit,explained Mitra.

The government had,after notifying the Singur Rehabilitation and Development Act,2011,taken possession of the 997.97 acres that had been acquired for the Nano car project in 2006.

Opposing this,Mitra said while the petition was prepared on the evening of June 21 and moved the next morning,the land had been taken over by the government at 9.30 pm on June 21.

Hearing will continue on Thursday.