There was a “Bandh” announced yesterday in Singur as the local people engulfed in despair after Ratan Tata announced that the company was pulling the Nano project from the state of West Bengal. Singur people seem to be protesting everything from Tata Motors. Earlier they were protesting the plant against the acquisition of land, now a total “bandh” was called by local CPI(M) leadership to protest against the decision to pull out the Nano plant from West Bengal.
A day after the announcement from Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata group, the reality of Tata pull out began to sink in the minds of residents of Singur. Local people have been left wondering why Tata did not wait any longer. Business in local market had shot up ever since Tata had set up its plant in Singur. Suppliers of construction material were distressed as they had seen days of good business while the plant had been set up. The prices of bricks had gone up from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5500 for 1000 piece consignment in two years. Even the local residents were happy as the real estate prices and rental values had shot up due to establishment from Tata Motors. They are expected to stoop down to lower levels now.
The only ones who seem to be a little relaxed are the salaried lot who commute to Kolkatta for their jobs. They now expect the prices for essential commodities and other daily items to come down to realistic levels which had gone up sharply ever since work at the plant site had commenced. They were finding it difficult to cope up with the rising prices due to their fixed income. Bandh affected the movement of trucks and other vehicles at the Durgapur Expressway.
