Singur may get a Nano

Tata Motors was driven out of Singur but soon a Nano will make its way back here. Sheikh Zairul Haq,a farmer in Singur whose land.....

Tata Motors was driven out of Singur but soon a Nano will make its way back here. Sheikh Zairul Haq,a farmer in Singur whose land was acquired by the state government three years ago for the Nano project,is all set to book the worlds cheapest car.

A resident of Joynmollah village in Singur,Haq got Rs 1.86 lakh as compensation for his land. My family gave our land voluntarily for the project. We were happy that our area was being developed. Ever since the factory shed came up,everybody in my family dreamt of owning this car. Now,I am ready to own the Nano, says Haq,flaunting the booking form he got through a friend.

I gave Rs 300 to a friend in Singur to get me the form. I even went to the local banks but the forms were not available there. So my friends got me one from a showroom in Kolkata. I will submit my application when the booking opens on April 9, says Haq,whose son Anarul worked at Tata Motors ancillary unit as a cleaner before it shut.

Haq is not the only one in Singur ready to drive the Nano. Sadai Koley who supplied raw materials to the Nano project site is also keen to book one. I was involved with the project. It was scuttled but at least I can own the car, says Koley,a wealthy businessman.

But not everyone in Singur has reason to be happy. For most farmers,these are uncertain times,with the Nano factory gone and development coming to a halt. The shops that mushroomed up around the factory are left with no customers.

Madhab Das,35,resident of Khaserbheri in Singur lost 3.5 acres of his agricultural land for the project but refused to take the compensation. I did not take the compensation as a mark of protest because the state government forcibly took away my land. I invested in my land,I got two mini deep tubewells installed. My family earned Rs 25,000 per month from my land. Barring a few kottah of land,everything was taken away for the factory. My family now lives on borrowed money, says Madhab Das.

Ravik Bhattacharya

Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read More