Nandigram Dispute

The March 14th massacre of 14 innocent civilians by the police and CPI(M) carders in the village of Nandigram in West Bengal brought to focus the irresponsible application of the eminent domain laws for the purpose of economic development. It all started when the West Bengal government decided that Salim Group from Indonesia would start a chemical hub under the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy at Nandigram.
Eminent domain is a way for the government to take private property for public use. For example, if the government wants to construct a new highway and the proposed highways passes through your land, then the government can take away your land for a compensation determined by the government. On top of it all it does not need your consent to buy the land.
The villages in Nandigram sensing that the government would use the eminent domain laws to take over their land decided to take matters into their own hands. They formed a group called Bhumi Ucched Protirodh Commitee's (BUPC) and destroyed all roads and bridges leading upto Nandigram. On March 14th 2007, the state government asked the administration in that area to break this resistance. In the ensuing fight that ensured about 14 innocent civilians were killed. After widespread condemenation of the state government's actions the plan to develop the SEZ in Nandhigram was dropped. But what happened after this is even more horrifying.
The government instead of trying to gain control of Nandigram through the official machinery, infilitrated the village with CPI(M) workers who burned houses, raped and killed women and children. This violation of human rights went on for close to 11 months until Nandigram was recaptured by the CPI(M) workers without any offical machinery (i.e. police or military). During these 11 months of horror, the state government expliniation for not intervening was that if the police or military went in the violance would escalate.
The center also did not act because of political compulsions as the Left parties are a important allies in the UPA government. If the center had acted they feared an immediate withdrawal of support by the left brining down the government.
Passing the blame between the different political parties is not going to help the victams of this horrific human rights violation. Alternate ways of ensuring the establishment of SEZ'z and buying and selling on land need to be ensured. Currently the Indian government does not allow selling of agricultural land for non agricultural purposes. The step in the right direction would be to abolish this restriction and have the free markets set the price for the lands. This would allow the companies in the SEZ's to negoitiate prices for the land. Also India has to think about moving away from a agricultural to a more service oriented and manufacturing economy. Numerous suiceds by framers in the Vidharb region and other parts of the country highlight the fact that things are not moving in the right direction as far as agriculture is considered. The government has to rethink its policies in the agricultural sector as well as the broader economy. Until we see these things addressed, the day will not be far when we will see another Nandigram happen.