Let’s Bring Back The Frozen Project!

Mr. Uday Lodh, President, State Petroleum Dealers Association expressing his views

             May it be too late; may it be days after the fair; but they gathered under one roof. They protested the protest and talked much to bring it back. Their voice may have a little sound, but their solemn resolution had the ability to reach the goal crossing the walls of the auditorium. They were the supporters of the frozen refinery project that was to be erected near the west coast of Maharashtra, in the rural circuit of Nanar in Ratnagiri district.  

             A meeting of the supporters of Ratnagiri Refinery and Petroleum Corporation Ltd (RRPCL) was organized at Ambar Hall at Ratnagiri, on last Saturday. A power point presentation focusing on the development potential of RRPCL was made by Mr. Keshav Bhat, retd deputy engineer, MIDC. Following it Mr. Avinash Mahajan addressed to reveal the modus operandi of the protesters and stated how pointless were the issues raised by them. A few speakers stated their views and urged that the people of Konkan must become optimistic.

             Mr. Bhat systematically stated the outline of the structure of the factory. He explained how the project would help creation of a large magnitude of employment opportunity, growth of allied industry and regional economic development. Mr. Bhat said, “A refinery requires close sea shore, desert table land and easy accessibility to a port. The venue selected was fulfilling these. This largely invested factory had a potential to promote at least 150 to 200 thousand jobs in infrastructure development and around 80 to 100 thousand jobs after erection. Despite this it will help growth of allied industry, construction business, hotel and IT sector; as well as auxiliary and health services in the surrounding region.” Mr. Bhat also told that the huge industry would bring quality educational and skill training facility; and promote establishment of research and technological development centers.     

            RRPCL was proposed with a claim of as huge as INR 30 thousand billion of investment; and could fetch to the state a GDP growth of 10% and 1.5% to the country. It could produce petroleum fuel complying BS VI standard of which 80 t0 90 per cent was to be carried through pipeline to reduce transportation cost and risk of danger. The factory could produce zero effluent and a system to monitor ambient air quality of the surrounding area was to be deployed. The Konkan people have lost grand socio economic development opportunity, the meeting concluded. The speakers and audience deeply regretted for wrong political pressure and sightless agitation.