Underlining that he was committed to the reforms that he has been pushing in his state, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee indicated here today that he’s ready with an economic “package” for those farmers of Singur whose refusal to accept land compensation has put a cloud over the Tata Motors’ Nano plant.

“There are some genuine farmers who still do not want to give their land,” Bhattacharjee told members of Assocham and local chambers. “The government has a moral responsibility for them. The government is ready with a package for them and we are ready to discuss that package.”

Sources said the “package” would include enhanced financial compensation for Singur farmers. It would benefit all landlosers — those who have accepted their compensation cheques and those who haven’t — and is said to cost an extra Rs 30-40 crore. Bhattacharjee said the government had deposited the unclaimed compensation amount — estimated at about Rs 28 crore — with the Calcutta High Court.

Giving back the land, Bhattacharjee said, wasn’t an option. “It’s neither realistic nor legally valid. I can’t afford to roll back. It is such an important project for us. I don’t know why they are repeating 400, 400? Why not 300, why not 500? Why they are opposing it? Other states are sending feelers to the Tatas.”

When some urged him to talk directly to the farmers, Bhattacharjee said this would be difficult because there is no one group. Many of them are absentee landlords, some have plots with faulty title deeds and then there are those who oppose the acquisition on political grounds.

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