Haldia, Mar 4: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday doled out largesse by distributing land to villagers in Nandigram that has witnessed large scale violence related to a land row over an industrial hub.

"Today we are distributing 224 acres of huge land. Pieces of land have been distributed to 1483 farmers. I myself have handed over to five people and the rest of them would be distributed from the administrative camp set up for the program," said Bhattacharjee, while addressing a public rally in Nandigram.

Nandigram has been in news for conflict between its residents and the State Government since early 2007. The villagers had refused to sell their land for a chemical industry complex.

Last year, the West Bengal Government was forced to abort the setting up of a special economic zone (SEZ) in Nandigram.

Although the project has been shelved, political hostilities have not abated and at least 35 villagers have been killed in clashes in last one year. (ANI)