Nandigram recuperates

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2007-05-16&usrsess=1729188831841&clid=23&id=183879

Shyam Sundar Roy
MIDNAPORE, May 15: After four months of turmoil, development activities have resumed in Nandigram with the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee giving their support to the district administration, Mr Ashok Sarkar, Nandigram BDO, said.
Repair work of a three-kilometre road from Tekha to Brindabanchowk in Nandigram I block has been taken up by the administration.A canal flowing through Kendemari and Kalicharanpur gram panchayats will be reclaimed. The decision to take up these schemes was taken at a meeting of gram pradhans and Opposition leaders in the block office on 11 May, following a Calcutta High Court directive. A Division Bench of the Chief Justice Mr SS Nijjar and Mr Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh passed an order on 3 May, directing the state government to ensure fundamental rights guaranteed under Section 21 of the Constitution to the people of Nandigram.
It also directed the state government to ensure uninterrupted ferry services between Nandigram and Haldia, and movement of people of Nandigram and adjoining areas to markets, schools and colleges.
Nandigram became tense after the police firing on 3 January on the Bhutamore procession taken out to protest against acquisition of farm land for the proposed chemical hub. Agitators ten dug up roads in vast areas across five gram panchayat areas of the block, virtually cutting off Nandigram from the rest of the country for four months.
The situation worsened following the police-CPM combine’s mayhem on 14 March to establish “rule of law”, when 14 people, including six women, fell to their bullets.
Women were raped and more than 100 people injured.