Nandigram lessons: Leaflets on Haldia project distributed among locals

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Aveek Datta

Posted online: Sunday , March 09, 2008 at 01:48:49
Updated: Sunday , March 09, 2008 at 02:09:48

Kolkata, March 8 The Nandigram and Singur episodes have made the business houses, which are keen to set up industrial plants in West Bengal, extra cautious as they do not want to face the wrath of the people over the land acquisition process. The firms are now resorting to new techniques for getting the people’s trust and support for the project.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the state, Bharati Shipyard Ltd (BSL) and Apeejay Shipping Ltd that are jointly developing a shipyard at Haldia have started distributing pamphlets in English, Bengali and Hindi among the locals there.

These pamphlets contain information about the Rs 2000-crore shipyard project and the offers that will be made to the landowners for acquiring 500 acres of land.

“We have started distributing pamphlets that clearly state our intention. We have decided to put everything in black and white so that there is no misconception later,” said the vice-president of BSL, Subir Chakraborty.

The awareness campaign has been launched much ahead of the actual work to begin. The proposal is currently being studied by an expert committee, which would have to submit its report before the process of acquiring land begins.

“We are planning to launch various initiatives like annuity for the aged, widows and disabled persons who are not employable any more and many such initiatives that we have stated in the pamphlets,” said Chakraborty.

The company is planning to launch other initiatives such as imparting training for the local youth and setting up new houses for the displaced.

All these programmes have been mentioned in the pamphlets.

“We met with the locals at the panchayat office and tried to address any queries that they might have despite the written document,” said Chakraborty.

Hailing the initiative, the managing director of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), M V Rao, said: “They have circulated the rehabilitation plan to the villagers and it is a good model. It is something that we would like others to follow.”

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