Mamata opposed to chemical hub at Nayachar

Nandigram (WB): Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday stuck to her opposition to the proposed chemical hub at Nayachar in East Midnapur district and rooted for any eco-friendly industry instead. "There will be no chemical hub at Nayachar. We will build an eco-friendly industry there if the oppostion alliance comes to power," Mamata said while addressing an election

meeting at Khejuri adjoining Nandigram.

Mamata said the alliance government, if formed, would take up projects in the region to boost industry and thereby generate employment. The railway minister also announced that a coach factory would be set up at Haldia and a rail industrial park at Jellingham near Nandigram.

She promised an industrial revolution in Haldia in East Midnapore district in the event of the alliance coming to power, but said a balance would be maintained between industry and agriculture while going in for industrialisation. "We want industry to develop, but at the same time we are opposed to forcible acquisition of land for industry," she said.

Nayachar, around 40 km from Nandigram, was chosen as the site for the chemical hub after the West Bengal government relocated the project from Nandigram following a violent agitation against land acquisition led by Trinamool Congress.

Nayachar happens to be a part of the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency which Trinamool Congress won in 2009.