Ratnagiri refinery project row | People must be taken into confidence, says Uddhav Thackeray

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 27 said though he had proposed Barsu as an alternative site for the Ratnagiri refinery project during his tenure, he would have moved ahead with it only after talking to the local residents and taking them into confidence had he remained in the post.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on April 27 said though he had suggested Barsu as an alternative site for the Ratnagiri refinery project proposed to be set up in Nanar, he would have moved ahead with it only after talking to the local residents and taking them into confidence had he remained as the Chief Minister.

The remarks come amid criticism by the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance of the “double standards” of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on the proposed project.

“While I did give a letter to the Centre [as then Maharashtra CM] suggesting Barsu as an alternative site for the refinery complex initially proposed at Nanar, I never put pressure on the locals,” he said.

Calling the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis Government “insensitive”, Mr. Thackeray said projects which can harm the environment must never be taken forward.

Speaking at the 55th annual general meeting of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the trade union wing of the Shiv Sena (UBT), the 62-year-old leader said he suggested Barsu as an alternative site to Nanar due to opposition from the people. “But my government was toppled or else I would have demanded that the project be explained to the local population. People must be told about employment generation and the benefits of a green refinery,” he said, while questioning the police action on villagers protesting against the project.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut said Mr. Thackeray would visit Barsu in the first week of May and interact with the villagers. He said protesters were being suppressed and even the media was being prevented from covering the protests.

Hitting out at the rival faction, Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Ekanth Shinde said under no situation the State Government would start the Barsu refinery project without the consent of the people. He said the State Government had undertaken boring and soil testing procedures, and was not going to start the project immediately.