Mumbai: Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Friday to oppose the government’s proposed plans to construct a massive refinery complex in Ratnagiri.
Last month thousands of farmers took to the streets in the district protesting against the first step taken towards building the project — acquiring land. “We will not allow the project to come up at any cost. We will not give our land,” said a protester.
The government intends to acquire over 15,000 acres from 14 villages in the Rajapur Tehsil of Ratnagiri district. “This project will harm the eco-sensitive zone of Konkan. It is coming up in a region where mangoes and cashew crops are cultivated. No one is ready to give up his or her land. It would be an injustice on them if the government uses force to acquire the land,” said Satyajit Chavan, convenor of the Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Sangharsha Samiti, a body that is spear heading the agitation.
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One of the key issues is also that the government is acquiring land under the simpler Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Act, instead of Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut and MLA Rajan Salvi were at Azad maidan in support of the protest.
This, despite the fact that project is in Ratnagiri, whose guardian minister is Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waiker and the land acquisition is being done on the orders of Industries Minister Subhash Desai, also from Shiv Sena.
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“Our stand is clear. We will be with the locals. They are opposing the project. We will ensure that government does not use force on protesters,” Mr. Raut said.
The project is being undertaken by the Central government through the three public sector oil companies Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL). The cost of the project is expected to be nearly Rs. 1 lakh crore.
Villagers are putting up a stiff protest to the project and have not allowed government officials to conduct preliminary land-mapping operations. On Friday, they declared that they will intensify the protest. “This project is just in the periphery of nuclear power project of Jaitapur. So, it will be sensitive and could be harmful. Villagers are aware of this fact,” said Aravind Samant, a protestor.
Protestors have met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to convey their emotions earlier this week. After the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed officers to have a joint land mapping and assured villagers that he will look into their concerns.