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The fate of the multi-billion dollar refinery project in the coastal Ratnagiri district remains undecided as the BJP and Shiv Sena, who share power in Maharashtra, have not arrived at a consensus.
The BJP wants the 60 million tonnes capacity refinery in the coastal district, which will enhance the country’s crude oil refinery capacity and provide jobs to the locals.
The local population is opposing the project on the grounds of loss of cultivated land and environmental pollution. Since Shiv Sena has a major following in the region, it does not want to antagonise the locals.
On the other hand, at Magnetic Maharashtra, a global investor summit for attracting investments in the State, which will commence on Sunday, the Fadnavis government is planning to enter into a MoU with Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemical Ltd, which is a public unlisted company, floated by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the summit.
Uddav-Fadnavis meet
However, Industries Minister of Maharashtra, Subhash Desai, on Thursday, while addressing the media on the Magnetic Maharashtra summit, said that if the local people are opposing the project, then Shiv Sena will not support it.
Desai, who is also a senior member of Sena, said that a meeting has been planned between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena President Uddhav Thackeray over this issue.
Magnetic Maharashtra
Desai reiterated that his party will not be supporting any project, which is being opposed by the local population. Detailing the Magnetic Maharashtra summit, Desai said during the three-day event, 4,000 MoUs of about ₹10 lakh crore will be signed with industry players. A number of business leaders, including Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group, Phil Shaw of Lockheed Martin India, Mukesh Ambani of the Reliance Industries and Tonino Lamborghini of Automobili Lamborghini are expected to attend the event.
Industries Secretary of Maharashtra, Sunil Porwal, told BusinessLine that the companies have been invited based on their global ranking. Their invitation is not linked to any investment commitment. He also denied that Automobili Lamborghini will be making any investment in the State.
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