Talking to those who saw Nandigram erupt reminds you of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster %u2013 a great plan where the authorities forgot to take elementary precautions. It is so much akin to the supposedly controlled nuclear emissions, that spun out of control and gave nuclear power a crippling reputation.
The Salim SEZ at Nandigram is a gigantic project to be set up in an area approximately the size of Chandigarh city. Yet, till March 14, the only definite government announcement about the land acquisition for the project came from a poster pasted on a gram panchayat wall by agents of the project in January. But district officials FE spoke to (many have fled their posts) were vehement they had received no information about any land acquisition from the Writers Building. In the process, the SEZ concept, development of West Bengal and to some extent, land acquisition for industries has taken a beating that will take a while to heal.
Let%u2019s forget the hyperbole and look at the figures. Of the total working population in Nandigram I block %u2014 the worst affected by arson %u2014 almost 40% are agricultural labourers, according to the state%u2019s statistical handbook. In the entire East Midnapore district, this percentage is over 27%. This is inspite of the industrial township of Haldia.
Just juxtapose this with a literacy rate of over 80% and population density of over 960 against the state average of 906 and you have enough reasons why the region needs an SEZ. The district is largely dependent on one crop, rice which can be sown only once a year. The state was on the right track, except it forgot to tell the people.
The CPIM had the pulse of the people all these years but it forgot the basic rules just when it needed most.
RE:The Fact
by hello on Mar 22, 2007 01:09 AM Permalink
SEZ is a good think, that was made like a Valcano by these bloody stupids entered the place with their close relations Explosive, TNT & guns!!!
RE:RE:The Fact
by Suman Chattopadhyay on Mar 22, 2007 01:55 PM Permalink
Everyone is talking about dicussion between common people of nandigram and Govt. But the fact is that, before anything had been initiated by Govt. about land accusition, based on rumours, some people destroy one police jeep and CPM party office. Also the panchyat bhawan was attacked. Then all the local CPIM supporters (around 3000) fled from the area and took shelter in Khejuri. 5 CPIM supporters were brutally killed and two CPIM women supporters were raped by the opponents. After that no police were allowed to enter in nandigram. 6 all party meetings were held there for next 2 and half months and CM repeatedly told in the media that without the consent of Nandigram people no land accusition will take place. But still the oponents were not allowing the police and the ran away CPM local supporters to enter into the area. Then some local CPM leaders created pressure on CM for the Police action without informing that what could be the consequences. And few Police officers and the hooligans of CPM party that day started firing on the mob when they were attacked by a large gang of people where women and children were placed in front to stop the police. The oppositions are very happy about the things that had happened in Nandigram. Now everywhere they are raising protest against land accusition, even in puruliya or bankura where lands are not fertile. These oppositions are creating a blockade between the Govt and the common people and that's why in every case communication gaps and rumours have started taking place. Also the Govt. is not doing much about this. Don't forget that CM didn't allowed the police to take any strong measures in Govindapur Rail colony where Kolkata High Court had given order to drive out the people who occupied the land of Railway ministry illegaly. Opponent opposed this and started protesting the verdict and rail refused to give any compensession for that. Then WB Govt. arranged a land for those people and discussed the matter with opposition and the matter was amicably solved and those people were rehabilitated in the new area. But in Nandigram opposition played foul and they made the situation worse. They stopped all type of discussion with the Govt and always opposed them. Now they are very happy for this unfortunate and brutal killings. They are now getting huge support for the act.
