MUMBAI: In a setback to the Shiv Sena in the Konkan region, over 100 Shiv Sainiks have joined the BJP in Ratnagiri in the presence of former party MLA Pramod Jathar to signal their support to the Nanar refinery plan. BJP claims Sena’s rank and file are unhappy with the party's decision to oppose the project on environmental grounds as they believe it would boost their job prospects.
Jathar said differences on the issue will prompt more Sena activists to shift to BJP including office-bearers and corporators. “We will not let the refinery go from Rajapur (Ratnagiri). There are hundreds of Shiv Sainiks who have come out in support of the project,” he said.
A Rs 3 lakh crore oil refinery and petrochemicals complex was proposed as a joint venture between Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and Saudi Aramco in Ratnagiri by the Centre during Devendra Fadnavis’s tenure. However, Sena had opposed it citing concerns about the huge land requirements as well as pollution concerns.
The project was proposed with a capacity of 60 million tonnes per annum, with a potential to generate 1.5 lakh direct and indirect jobs. However, concerns about its impact on agriculture and fishing which are the big sources of employment in Konkan, had generated fears.
According to those backing the plan, it would boost job opportunity and incomes. However, Sena opposed it citing ecological concerns in the green, coastal belt.
In March, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had said it will be shifted to another site due to local opposition. The CM had also said that the state has identified a few alternative sites for the project. MNS chief Raj Thackeray then wrote to the CM, demanding that the project be revived in Konkan without disturbing the environment. Meanwhile, the union petroleum minister has ordered a feasibility study for setting it up in Vidarbha.
