Buddha withdraws Nandigram SEZ notification
10 January, 2007
Buddha withdraws Nandigram SEZ notification
Tuesday announced withdrawal of the notification issued by Haldia Development Authority for acquiring farmland for an SEZ at Nandigram in east Midnapore district.
The notice issued by the authority for developing a chemical hub by the Indonesian Salim group stands cancelled, the CM, under immense pressure from local CPM cadres, said. The protesters too relented allowing the police to enter the violence-hit areas.
The Midnapore police also reciprocated with the CM's conciliatory mood. The police provided 'conditional bail' to Khokon Sheet, a local Trinamul Congress leader, whose release was a condition set by Congress and Trinamul to join peace talks.
The three-hour-long peace meeting held at the Nandigram BDO office was marked by a volley of charges and counter charges with SDO Shankar Haldar bringing the parties to an agreement. The meeting also decided that no political camps will be set up within a radius of five-kilometre of the proposed land to acquired. And if the state government does plan to acquire the land, it'll convene a similar all-party meeting and elaborate on it.
Meanwhile, Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi visited Nandigram on Tuesday. The chief minister too announced that he would be visiting Nandigram after the situation becomes normal.
Earlier, with tempers still on the edge, police reinforcements were sent to completely seal-off Nandigram. It has also decided to set up two additional camps hemming Nandigram, blocking off all the roads leading to it.
Dasmunshi, meanwhile, tried to garner maximum mileage out of the situation. He, however, stopped short of demanding a CBI enquiry into the Sunday mass murders, saying he'll discuss about it with the Centre.
Dasmunshi also claimed the state government should declare Rs 5-lakh compensation to each of victims' families. He said he'd take up the matter with Sonia Gandhi but took a dig at chief minister for "hurrying up" the land acquisition process. He also demanded a white paper on the land acquisition.
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Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, News
posted by Bimal 10.1.07,
