Nandigram wants industry through consensus

  • 26/03/2008

  • Statesman (Kolkata)

State government's attempt to acquire land at Nandigram for a proposed Chemical hub may have witnessed enough bloodshed forcing the chief minister to abandon land acquisition plans there, but the Assembly standing com-mittee on Commerce and Industries today claimed that the people of Nandigram are not against industrialisation provided it is done through a consensus. Congress MLA and chairman of the standing committee, Mr Sudip Bandopadhyay, said: "During our visit to Jellingham in Nandigram Block II, which was one of the proposed sites for a ship building yard, we have spoken to a number of people in Nandigram who want food, shelter, job and industry. But, they want it through consensus.' Mr Bandopadhyay was speaking to reporters after releasing a report on the proposed ship building yard in East Midnapore in the Assembly today. "There are certain technical shortcomings in Jellingham for the ship building yard and we recommend that this should come up at Badur near Geonkhali in East Midnapore. The Jellingham site is also under litigation and with the chief minister announcing that no land will be acquired in Nand-igram, Jellingham was not an option for this project,' he said. Asked what kind of industry can be set up in Jellingham if local people are keen on industrialisation as reported by the standing committee, Mr Bandopadhyay said: "The question can only be answered after chief minister withdraws his statement on Nandigram land acquisition. n sns