Bengal working on special development plan for Nandigram

Kolkata: “I understand the agony of the people of Nandigram where industry could not be set up. But that does not mean Nandigram is to remain backward,” the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said here on Wednesday as he announced that his Government was working on a special development plan for the area which would focus on agriculture, health, education, power and better connectivity.

It was the Chief Minister’s first visit to Nandigram since the outbreak of violence in the area in January that resulted in the State Government jettisoning a move to set up a chemical hub there. But intermittent trouble continued till November, during which several people were killed and hundreds of families forced to flee their homes.

“I have come to Nandigram after a long time. For almost a year you have suffered a great deal. We too in the Government have been pained,” Mr Bhattacharjee said, addressing a massive rally organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Sitting on an adjoining dais were members of the families of 29 workers of the CPI(M) who had died in the past months of violence. “I offer my condolences not just to them but to all those who died – there were some who belonged to the Opposition camp,” he said. Each of the 29 families was given a cheque for Rs 2 lakh as donation from the party.

“The peace that has returned now has to be protected and preserved by the people. It cannot be ensured through the presence of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It is now time to repair the damage and the State Government is working towards developing the economy of the area,” Mr Bhattacharjee said.

“In power for the past 30 years, we (the Left Front government) have gone through many experiences but none like the one at Nandigram,” the Chief Minister remarked.

Regretting the March 14 police firing in the area that resulted in the death of eight persons and led to subsequent clashes that claimed another six lives, he said: “the police had gone there to set up camp so that governance could return to the area.”

“Had I known that there would be firing, I would not have sent the police to Nandigram. Does any civilised government want such firing?” Mr Bhattacharjee asked.

“But how does one explain these past months of disturbances and unrest in Nandigram? It continued well after I announced that no industry will be set up in February, a month after the outbreak of violence. Nothing can be done through any unjust act on the people, by forcibly taking away their land – something that, it was widely circulated, we were planning to do. Have we lost our minds to go in for industry forcibly without the people’s consent?” Mr Bhattacharjee said, reiterating that no chemical hub would be set up in Nandigram.

But all that was a matter of the past. “I appeal to the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh (Resistance against Eviction of Land) Committee, which enjoys the backing of the Trinamool Congress, enough is enough. Wind up your committee as the question of eviction is no longer relevant, as there is no land to be acquired. Set up a peace committee instead,” Mr Bhattacharjee said.

All funds being provided to the victims of the past months of violence in Nandigram will be disbursed without “any consideration of their political allegiance and the district authorities have been instructed accordingly,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr Bhattacharjee said of the Rs 1 crore sanctioned by the government, Rs 74 lakh had been spent so far for rehabilitation work besides repairing damaged houses, roads and bridges. “I have instructed the administration to spend the remaining amount within a month,” he said, adds agency reports. A committee, he said, had been set up under a senior government officer to prepare a report on what kind of development projects could be taken up in Nandigram. “We will implement those projects as soon as the report is available,” he said.