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News of Jan
6, 2007
Nandigram Villagers form Body
to Resist Land Acquisition
Kolkata/Nandigram,
Jan 6
At least 22 mass organizations have formed a body to prevent any
attempt by the West Bengal government to acquire land for a chemical
hub and a special economic zone (SEZ) in Nandigram town that saw
violent protests against the proposal this week.
The Bhumi Ucched Partirodh Committee (Committee to Resist
Eviction from Land) was formed to prevent any move to acquire land
for the proposed project by the Salim group of Indonesia and the
state government even as activists of the ruling Communist Party of
India-Marxist (CPI-M) flexed their muscles and drew a battle line
with the angry farmers and residents.
"We will not give any land for industrialization here at any cost or
price. We will teach the government a lesson if they use force,"
said a representative of the new body.
CPI-M leader Binoy Konar in Kolkata said: "We will not sit silent in
Nandigram. We will hit back if they adopt violent means." The battle
lines were thus drawn in Nandigram.
Though no violence was reported Saturday, the situation remained
tense after an overnight incident of bomb throwing in the area.
Nandigram, about 150 km from Kolkata, is a minority dominated area
in East Midnapore district and considered a Left Front citadel.
On Wednesday, police had to fire several rounds to quell frenzied
villagers at Nandigram who set a police jeep on fire, heavily
injured cops, blocked roads with boulders and demolished a bridge to
prevent police access to their areas after the word of a land
acquisition notification spread.
The situation has remained explosive since then, prompting Chief
Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and the CPI-M to go on the back foot
even as the Left Front constituent Communist Party of India (CPI)
criticized the former for its land acquisition policies.
The Nandigram assembly seat is held by the CPI while the Haldia Lok
Sabha seat belongs to the CPI-M.
In East Midnapore, the government reportedly has eyed over 22,000
acres of land for industrial projects.
On July 31, the state government signed an agreement with the Salim
Group to implement various developmental projects, including a mega
chemical industrial estate, to be spread over 10,000 acres in a
50:50 joint venture.
Construction of a four-lane road bridge over the Haldi river, from
Haldia to Nandigram, has also been planned. The bridge would provide
a link between Haldia and the proposed chemicals SEZ in Nandigram.
IANS
News of Jan
6, 2007
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