Date:26/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/26/stories/2007122659711400.htm

National

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to visit Nandigram today

Special Correspondent

Likely to announce new development schemes for the area

KOLKATA: Much significance is being attached to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s visit to Nandigram on Wednesday — a visit that is expected to take forward the peace process that has recently been initiated after 11 months of strife in the area.

Mr. Bhattacharjee will address two public gatherings — one at Nandigram and the other at Tamluk, the headquarters of Purbo Medinipur district.

First visit

This will be his first visit to the area after intermittent violence broke out in Nandigram in January resulting in the State government calling off its move to set up a chemical hub there.

The project was jettisoned following protests from the local people that had led to agitations and encounters over the past months between supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh (Resistance against Eviction from Land) Committee.

Aftermath

The area had turned inaccessible after violence forced thousands of people out of their homes.

Many houses were destroyed. Barring a few families, all have returned since hostilities ceased and Central forces were deployed.

Mr. Bhattacharjee is expected to announce new development schemes for Nandigram now that the civil administration has resumed functioning there.