India’s biggest oil refinery project entailing an investment of ₹3 lakh crore, proposed to come up in Ratnagiri, should not be pushed through without addressing concerns of locals and conducting a social impact assessment, a parliamentary panel has said.
The Committee on Government Assurances in the Rajya Sabha, whose latest report was tabled in Parliament on Monday, had taken up the issue regarding the setting up of the refinery during its study visit to Mumbai. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier informed the Upper House that Engineers India Limited was carrying out a detailed feasibility study.
The committee said that locals’ concerns regarding the impact of the project on the region’s ecology and their livelihoods cannot be brushed aside. Though it observed that developmental projects are necessary for economic growth, the Committee directed representatives of the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) to carry out a social impact assessment and intensify mass outreach programmes to address locals’ concerns and explain to them its benefits.
Three Indian public sector oil firms signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 11, 2018 with Saudi Aramco, the State-owned oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to develop the refinery and petrochemicals complex in Nanar village of Ratnagiri, the coastal district of Maharashtra. While the Union Cabinet cleared Aramco’s investment in the project, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after initially backing the project, took a step back in the winter session of the Assembly, stating there will be no land acquisition for the project, owing to ongoing agitation from locals and opposition from BJP’s ally Shiv Sena.
Three months ago, Sena leader and Industries Minister Subhash Desai announced in Ratnagiri that a government notification for acquiring land for the project in Nanar stood cancelled. Mr. Desai’s statement was negated by Mr. Fadnavis, who said the order had not been cancelled.
Locals question logic
Residents have asked how a public outreach program was held after the project has been notified and land required for it has been earmarked for industrial use.
“Shouldn’t such programs be held before bringing the project in our area? The RRPCL is presently going on an over-drive for publicity through junkets for locals, sponsorship, and advertisements. All this is being done after declaring the project. We have clarified that first drop this project from Nanar and then we will listen to ad campaigns,” said Satyajit Chavan, convener, Konkan Refinery Prakalp Virodhi Sangharsh Sanghatana.
Mr. Chavan said that the CM’s announcement to stop land acquisition was a diversionary tactic.
“This process is on halt from the last one year. The real issue is that farm lands are being declared as industrial under the notification by the State’s Industry department. We want this notification to be quashed. Dialogue is possible only after that,” he said.
The function of the assurance committee is to scrutinise the promises given by the Minister on the floor of the house during Question Hour as also during discussion on Bills, Resolutions, Motions, Calling Attention notices. It reports to the house on the extent to which those have been implemented and time frame.
Pune Airport
The Committee has also observed that the development of a new civilian airport at Pune has already been delayed and hoped for no further hurdles. It has recommended that the Union Civil Aviation Ministry should expedite necessary clearances.
Last month, Mr. Fadnavis approved the appointment of a consultant for the development plan of the proposed greenfield airport. In a meeting with Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation, a decision was also taken to set up a project management office for it.
