The decision was taken by the government after the Indonesian tycoon Anthony Salim, CEO of Salim Group, met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Commerce and Industries Minister at Writers’ Buildings on June 6.

Salim Group had planned a chemical SEZ in Nandigram before it led to an outrage among the locals and became one of the reasons for the CPM’s debacle in the recent panchayat polls. After meeting the government and its joint venture partner, Anthony Salim, announced that his company would stand by the state government.

“We are planning to hold detailed talks with the newly-elected panchayat representatives after the zilla parishad, panchayat samity and gram panchayat boards in these districts are formed. We will explain them each project in detail and take their views on it. Later, rehabilitation package and other things will be discussed. We are hopeful of evolving a consensus,” said Sabyasachi Sen, principal secretary to state commerce and industries department.

Though the Trinamool Congress leaders did not welcome the government’s proposal heartily they didn’t refuse it either.

“We are not against all the projects of the Salim group but we will continue to oppose certain proposed projects. We will protest against projects like highway from Raichak to Kukrahati where fertile agricultural land will be acquired. We are aware of the state government’s proposal but our party is yet to decide whether the Trinamool representatives in the area will settle the issue. The newly-elected representatives will also have a say on the issue ,” said Sougata Roy, Trinamool spokesperson.

On July 31 last year, the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and New Kolkata International Develeopment private limited (NKID), a special purpose vehicle, signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

According to the MOU, the projects include a chemical industrial estate and chemical SEZ at Nandigram (after the strong resistance from the villagers, state government was forced to shift the site to Nayachar near Haldia).

Some other projects under the MoU are a multi-product SEZ in Haldia on 12,500 acres and industrial estates for small and medium enterprises in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, requiring 400 acres. The consortium is also to develop Eastern Link Highway, a four-lane highway from Barasat to Raichak, which will require 2,500 acres.

Apart from the above projects, the consortium will undertake various urban development projects such as developing townships in Kukrahati, Baruipur and Bhangar.