Refinery in Konkan: Uddhav meets Fadnavis, backs locals

Fadnavis argued in favour of the project and why it is beneficial for the state economy.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, to formally register the party’s opposition to the proposed oil refinery at Nanar village in Ratnagiri district.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday to discuss the proposed oil refinery in Nanar. (HT File)

After the meeting, state industries department which is headed by Sena minister Subhash Desai, said the state would not ink the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the mega oil refinery project. “After the interaction with the chief minister (CM), we are confident that the project won’t be built by ignoring the opposition of the locals,” said Thackeray. Fadnavis said in the meeting the government will try to convince the villagers how the project is beneficial for them and in case they are not convinced, the project will be called off.

According to senior Sena leaders, who were present in the meeting, Fadnavis argued in favour of the project and why it is beneficial for the state economy. He assured Thackeray that the department concerned will initiate dialogue with the locals and no decision will be taken against their interest.

“The CM argued that the oil refinery in Gujarat changed the economy of the state, and how the project of this scale would be beneficial for Maharashtra. He said there would be no ill-effects. He even cited the example of Chembur refinery,” said a senior Sena leader. Vinayak Raut, Lok Sabha MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, said a delegation of village heads where the project is proposed, had come to present their case before the CM.

The two leaders are said to have spoken for 15 minutes. A senior Sena leader said they could have spoken about the two upcoming by-elections. He dismissed claims that there are re-negotiations on alliance between the parties.