West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on Thursday held a series of meetings with the state government and Trinamool Congress in the run up to Friday's crucial talks that could discuss a proposal for higher compensation for farmers whose land was acquired for the Tata Motors car project.
The Governor had a meeting with state's Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and Panchayat Minister Surya Kanta Mishra and later a delegation of Trinamool leaders who included Partha Chatterjee.
The Governor said he "is looking forward to a meaningful dialogue tomorrow," a press statement issued by Raj Bhavan in Kolkata said.
Speaking in the same vein, Mamata Banerjee said the Governor's initiative would bring smile on 'every face'. ''I am grateful that the Governor has taken the initiative and I am sure this initiative will bring a smile on every face,'' Banerjee said in Singur.
Industry Minister Nirupam Sen expressed optimism about arriving at a solution at the dialogue.
Government sources said that with not much alternate land available Friday's meeting may deliberate on a better compensation package for farmers whose land was acquired for the Tata Motors' car plant in Singur.
Industry Secretary Sabyasachi Sen said West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation has only 47 acre in the 997 acre earmarked for Tata Motors plant and its ancilliary units. "How can the government distribute it? It will lead to discrimination. There is also a legal problem," he said.
Ratan Tata calls on prime minister
Meanwhile, Tata Group chief Ratan Tata on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amid the raging controversy and uncertainty over the Nano car project at Singur, even as the corporate leader vowed to do his best to roll out his dream car as per planned October deadline.
Along with Tata were automotive leaders Rahul Bajaj, Brij Mohan Munjal and Ravi Kant who met the prime minister as part of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) delegation.
The meeting comes on the backdrop of Singur controversy, which has almost made the company decide to pull out its Nano project out of West Bengal.
Details of the meeting that SIAM delegation had with the prime minister were not known immediately.
Earlier in the day, Tata had refused to comment on the stalemate at Singur but said Tata Motors was trying its best possible to launch the Nano as per schedule.
"Obviously, we are a company which wants to launch Nano as planned. We will try to do everything possible to launch Nano as planned," Tata said at the 48th SIAM Annual Convention 2008 in New Delhi.