Both camps face an acute political compulsion to make things work, in the bitter aftermath of the death of the small car project, which would certainly have changed the economy of the Eastern region. However, somewhat unexpectedly, the Trinamool Congress reaped rich political dividends out of the entire episode, as reflected in the Lok Sabha election results from the area.

The middle class, while upset with Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee over the cancellation of the project, was more angry over the state government's abject failure to intervene and its gutless surrender to the Trinamool agitation.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that senior Trinamool leaders including Ms Banerjee and Partha Chatterjee have stayed away from Singur in recent months. Over 1200 “unwilling “ farmers, who did not accept compensation from the state for the land they had given up, now realise that they had ended up losing almost everything. They constitute only about 15% of the total landowners entitled to such compensation.

Their land has been built over, there is no chance of their land being ever returned or made fit again for agriculture. Their livelihood is gone and now they find themselves without money, unlike their neighbours who were compensated liberally.

No wonder that first Ms Banerjee and then Mr. Chatterjee on separate occasions, had to face angry crowds who asked just what the Trinamool Congress proposed to do about them. An indignant farmer said to Ms Banerjee, ”You ask us to wait and wait, and that something would be done, but when …after we are dead?” The Railway Minister beat a hasty retreat, saying that local leaders would soon look into their demands.

In fact, local Trinamool leader Becharam Manna, who led the unwilling farmers, now finds it difficult to stay in the area.

So it was incumbent on Ms Banerjee to initiate some kind of a project at Singur, to look after her loyal flock and also to shed the anti-progress, anti-industry label now stuck on her by her critics. In desperation she appealed to the State Government to think in terms of a joint venture with the Railways, an offer that was promptly accepted.

The State Government had its own stake in the matter even if it did not want to help Ms Banerjee to get out of a difficult situation. The land, nearly 1000 acres, remain with Tatas under a lease valid until next March. Mr. Ratan Tata has made it clear that there was no plan to hold on to the site and if the state compensates his group for the construction already undertaken in the areas - 85% of the car factory had been completed - the land would be returned to the State Government. The amount mentioned; Rs 500 crore.

Given the financial health of the West Bengal government, this seems to be a very high sum it cannot possibly afford to pay.

On the other hand, the state's efforts to get BHEL authorities to put up a new power plant in the area also failed. It was found that on the built-up area, it would be difficult to carry out fresh piling, new construction and other activities.

Ms Banerjee's next condition has been that the state must free its land first, before the Railways can seriously explore the possibilities for a new JV project. West Bengal officials say they have initiated talks with the Tatas. However, unless the state comes up with the compensation demanded by the Tatas, it would not be realistic to expect much progress. According to present indications, the Government is simply not in any position to come out with such a large compensation package for the Tatas.

Observers feel that against this backdrop, there is no immediate possibility of any new project at the Singur site. (IPA)