The explosion at the BPCL refinery at Mahul on Wednesday has given voice to the people protesting the Nanar oil refinery project in Ratnagiri district.
The local residents have been opposing the project, and all political parties except the Bharatiya Janata Party have extended their support to the people.
Satyajit Chavan, convener of the Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Virodhi Samiti, said, “There always remains the fear of an accident within a refinery. An explosion is always a possibility. This is the same refinery which the Chief Minister has been citing as a benchmark of safety. This is an unfortunate incident, but why should similar danger be thrust upon Konkan?”
On Wednesday evening, Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, who along with his father BJP MP Narayan Rane is opposing the project, tweeted: “Like Chembur, is Nanar next?”
