Refinery supporters ready to fight till the end

Land givers are coming up / Demand March on 20 at Ratnagiri 

In spite of government decision to relocate the proposed ‘Nanar’ refinery, the number of its supporters is rapidly growing. The huge project with enormous employment potential must be erected at the first proposed site, stated Mr. Keshav Bhat and Mr. Avinash Mahajan, spokespersons of ‘KonkanVikas Samiti (KVS)’ before the Press in Mumbai. The KVS is a large group of supporters of the project. Mr. Bhat and Mr. mahajan were accompanied by a group of eminent citizens of Ratnagiri town. They expressed their resolute preparedness to strive until they get complete success to bring back the project to Nanar. As a part of this positive agitation a Demand March to District Collector of Ratnagiri is organized by KVS. It will start at 11 am on 20 July from Maruti Mandir, the CBD of Ratnagiri town.

            Ratnagiri  Refinery and Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (RRPCL), a three billion grand project was proposed to be erected in the creek side area in south west of Ratnagiri district. RRPCL is formed by four Indian petroleum factories in public sector, with the collaboration of Saudi ARAMCO, one of the largest rifineries in the world. The project has enormous employment potential that could entirely transform the present picture of Konkan economy which is mostly based on fishing, mango and labourship in metropolitan cities out of Konkan.  It can fetch job opportunities to almost one hundred thousand (One lakh) persons during the erection process and not less than 50 thousand when in full functioning. Despite this, a lot of urban amenities, good schools, training institutes, hospitals and research centers would take place; and local products like Alphanso mango and fish will get market at the door of the producers, as well as a vast field for traders and service providers.

            Many proposed projects have been expelled from this land in the past under the pretext of environment conservation; neither the environment was properly protected nor the industries could grow. Only the slogans of converting Konkan into California echoed. But the mindset of local people is now changed and they are coming up to express their positive will to support such projects. The causes forwarded by so called agitators have no grounds and people are realizing the advantageous potential conceived by the proposed refinery.

            The spokespersons addressed to the reporters that owners of more than 7500 acres of land have come up to respond the acquisition. The picture of protest was created by those who had no connection to the Konkan land. Those who led the agitators were not losing even one square inch of their land. But regretfully the atmosphere was painted with hostile colours; and the people already prepared to give their land were threatened of boycott and public humiliation like ‘Spit March’.  The meetings to agitate the people were organized in temples where it was difficult to resist and move against the peasantry. It was the reason why the supporters could not raise to express themselves. Even the State appointed Sukhtankar Committee was bent to stall their work.

They told that it was unfortunate that despite the supporters had already approached Honourable Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Phadanvis, their voice was unnoticed. But now the people would not withdraw, they will have the project erected in their region and walk on the way to regional prosperity, Mr. Mahajan reiterated.