To cool Nandigram, Buddha says we were hasty, can delay SEZ

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today admitted that the trouble at Nandigram was somewhat caused by the government’s “haste”...

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today admitted that the trouble at Nandigram was somewhat caused by the government’s “haste” and that he had ordered the District Magistrate to tear off all notices issued by the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) from the walls of Panchayat offices.

“We worked in a hasty manner and that was our mistake,” said Bhattacharjee. “We did not have prior preparation before going in for the exercise (issuing the notices). We will do everything in consultation with all concerned even if that takes time to set up the SEZ at Nandigram.”

The Chief Minister’s statement is clearly an attempt to lower the rising temperature at Nandigram and bridge what party sources said could be a “communication gap” between the villagers and the government. While the government had failed to inform local residents about the project and the rehabilitation package it was working on, various NGOs and other political parties rushed in to make political capital.

Story continues below this ad

Incidentally, while it is the DM who has the authority to issue land-acquisition notices, in Nandigram, this was done by the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) which has no power to issue such notices.

The Chief Minister also announced he will visit Nandigram at a suitable time. “I will go because I will have to go,” he said.

Giving an account on how the state had bagged the project competing with seven other states, the Chief Minister said that the chemical hub that was to come up at Nandigram would be one of the best in the country. “We will set it up only after consulting all sections of the people. I have already spoken to the Congress Party regarding the situation. We will have to build industries but at the same time, we will have to strike a fine balance between agriculture and industrialisation,” said Bhattacharjee.

He also said that while the Salim group could be the anchor developer, the IOC would be the anchor investor. The Chief Minister said that the state government would have no problems at Salboni where the Jindals are setting up a steel plant. “Some people are saying that the steel plant is coming up on forest land at Salboni but it is not true,” Bhattacharjee said.

Story continues below this ad

The Jindals are coming to Kolkata on January 11 to sign the agreement for the steel plant with the state government.

‘Double bonanza for poor, middle class’: PM’s swadeshi pitch ahead of new GST roll out

India5 hr ago

PM Modi announced the rollout of new GST rates, calling it a "GST bachat utsav" and promising cheaper prices for medicines, insurance, and daily essentials. He emphasized that these reforms would ease doing business, attract investment, and benefit the poor, middle class, MSMEs, farmers, women, traders, and youth. He urged citizens to promote swadeshi goods.

View all shorts

Live Blog