A Nandigram-like situation appears to be in the making in Pondicherry, where a people’s movement against a private deepwater port project is getting militant.
CHENNAI: A Nandigram-like situation appears to be in the making in Pondicherry, where a people’s movement against a private deepwater port project is getting militant.
Protesting against the Rs 2,700-crore project which involves acquisition of agricultural land and displacement of fishermen, the Pondicherry People’s Protection Movement (PPPM) ransacked the project site and roughed up the security guard on Monday. It is planning to lay siege to the Assembly which begins its session on March 27, when some 5,000 villagers will return their ration cards to the government as a mark of “secession from the state.”
On a petition, the Madras HC in 2006 restrained the Delhi-based developers, Subhash Projects, from going ahead with the project till it gets the environment clearance. After a public hearing in February, the state asked the developer to submit a new environment impact assessment report.
While villagers, environmentalists and politicians have rallied against the project, the developer allegedly started demolition of some structures within the existing port, triggering the latest protest. CM N Rangasamy said: “I will explain everything in the Assembly.”
As per the official agreement, the government will lease the port land at five paise /sqft for fifty years and acquire neighbouring villages, besides providing power and water at low rates. “The immediate acquisition will be of Thengathittu region. We will lay down our lives to protect our land,” says councillor S Bhaskaran.
“The project will also displace fishermen of 20 villages, besides leading to sand erosion and increased grou-ndwater salinity,” says Probir Banerjee, PPPM member.
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