The ruling saffron alliance partners on Monday slugged it out over the proposed Nanar oil refinery project, with the Shiv Sena daring the BJP to take the project from the eco-sensitive coastal Konkan region to Gujarat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissing a Sena Minister’s claim that the State Government had annulled the land acquisition notification for the project.
In a vehement reiteration of his party’s opposition to the Centre’s decision to set up an oil refinery and petroleum products complex at Nanar village in Ratnagiri district, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said: “The BJP (read Fadnavis) is holding out threats to us that if the refinery project is not allowed to come up at Nanar, it will be shifted to Gujarat. If it so desires, the BJP can take the project to Gujarat. But, we will not allow it come up at Nanar”.
Addressing a public rally at Nanar, Uddhav charged that a major land scam had taken place a Nanar ahead of the Centre’s announcement to locate the oil refinery project at Nanar. “With prior information that the project is coming up at Nanar, Gujaratis and Marwadis have purchased large tracts of land in and around this village. Why did these people corner huge land at NanarIJ There is a huge scam in the whole land deals. land sharks are involved in this," he said.
“Otherwise, when did Shahs and Katiyars become farmersIJ What we are witnessing here is brazen display of money here. I have to tell them that whatever you want to do, please do it in your state. You can buy anything in the world, but not Shivaji’s loyal foot soldiers. Come what may, we will not allow Konkan region to become Gujarat,.” Uddhav said.
Uddhav exhorted the farmers of Nanar to take a pledge that they would not sell their land for the oil refinery project.
“I want you to take a pledge today that you would not give even one inch of land for the project. As of now, we are proceeding in a peaceful manner. If need, we can also take a route that is not permitted under law” .
Indirectly hitting out at Fadnavis for insisting on locating the oil refinery project in Konkan region, the Sena chief said: “By thrusting this project, we will not let destroy the eco-sensitive Konkan region. If such a thing happens, we will destroy you. The people of this village and also neighbouring villages are solidly behind the Shiv Sena in opposing the project
Meanwhile, contesting a statement made by Maharashtra Industries Minister Subhash Desai of the Shiv Sena that the original notification permitting the state government to acquire the land for the project, the chief minister said: “Whatever Desai has said is not the state government’s opinion. It is his personal opinion. The notification permitting the land acquisition has not been cancelled as been stated by the minister concerned. Only a high-power committee headed by the chief secretary can take such decision (to cancel the notification). As far as the state government concerned, we will take whatever decision that is interest of Maharashtra in general and Konkan region in particular”.
Earlier in the afternoon, addressing the public rally, Desai had announced that the state government had cancelled the notification permitted land acquisition for the refinery project at Nanar. “Gram Panchayats in villages at and around Nanar have passed resolutions opposing the refinery project.
The State Government has no alternative but to accept the resolutions passed by the affected village panchayats. By going with the move to set up the oil refinery project at Nanar, I am not going to severe my connection with Konkan region for two generations. We will scrap this project”.
The Shiv Sena had registered its first protest against the Nanar project on April 12, a day after an Indian consortium comprising Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation ltd (BPCl) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation ltd (BPCl) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Saudi Aramco) for setting an oil refinery and petroleum products complex at Nanar in Rajapur taluka of Ratnagiri district.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have done a deal with Saudi Arabia. That’s why the Centre is going ahead with the Nanar project, despite the assurance given by our chief minister that the project would not be thrust on the people of Konkan region. That goes to prove that the Maharashtra Chief Minister does not mean much to the Centre,” Uddhav said.