Ratnagiri refinery

An oil refinery in Maharashtra is dividing villages in the Konkan belt Ratnagiri district, India’s Alphonso capital, is seeing heavy police deployment, with tension surrounding a refinery project, and the growing divide between opposers and supporters May 06, 2023 10:08 pm | Updated May 07, 2023 12:14 pm IST - Ratnagiri The lush greenery of mango orchards and jackfruit trees offers a welcome relief from the blazing May sun on the Rajapur laterite plateau of A section of villagers supports the proposed multibillion-dollar Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) project discreetly, believing that it will create much-needed employment in the Konkan region. Others oppose it, voicing concerns about its impact on the environment and the local community’s livelihoods and land rights. Ratnagiri refinery project row | People must be taken into confidence, says Uddhav Thackeray “We don’t want such poisonous projects in Konkan. Nature comes first for us. The government is promising to provide employment to locals in that refinery, but every year we are providing employment to hundreds,” said Kashinath Gorle, 60, from Shivne village, adding that people from other States and even Nepal come to work here. Despite not owning any land, Mr. Gorle has emerged as the face of the anti-refinery protesters. The Konkan region is ecologically sensitive with several species of flora and fauna endemic to the area. Apart from agriculture – cashew and paddy plantations also form a part ...

In a significant development involving the world’s largest refinery project in Ratnagiri in the coastal Konkan belt, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing a new location. The Maharashtra government is in touch with the Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPCL), which would be executing the mega project. The super refinery project involves an Indian consortium consisting of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) that signed an MoU with Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) for setting up India's largest refinery and petroleum complex. The Rs three lakh crore would have been the largest single-location refinery complex in the world with a capacity of 60 million tonnes. Initially, the project was proposed to come up at Nanar in Rajapur tehsil, however, it had to be stalled because of the opposition by the Shiv Sena. While Thackeray had communicated with Modi some time back, the issue became public coinciding with the Konkan visit of his son and state Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray. Asked about the development, the junior Thackeray said: “Yes, as I have said earlier, the project would come up after consultations with the locals and the interest of the bhoomi-putras." In place of Nanar, the government has proposed Basru and Nate for the refinery and crude oil terminal, respectively. The Shiv Sena’s alliance partners in the Maha V...

Maharashtra: The Indians taking on giant Saudi-backed refinery "We don't want this chemical refinery. We will not allow dirty oil from an Arab country to destroy our pristine environment," says Manasi Bole. She is among thousands of people protesting plans to acquire an expansive laterite plateau - flanked by cliffside fishing villages, mango orchards and …

With ₹3 lakh crore worth oil refinery project proposed at Nanar in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra gaining support within his party and ruling alliance partners, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray faces a tough challenge to maintain his party’s stand to oppose the much-debated project. Rajapur Municipal Council in Ratnagiri approved a resolution on Tuesday and supported the oil refinery. The resolution was moved by the ruling Congress- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and supported by the BJP and two Shiv Sena councillors. Municipal President Jamir Khilafe told the media that the oil refinery project will bring investment and employment to the region. Pratiksha Khadpe, Shiv Sena member in the council, said that Gram Panchayats are coming out in the support of the refinery. Shiv Sena leader and State Minister Uday Samant tweeted, saying “Rajapur Municipal Council has hurt the sentiments of local people and Shiv Sena will continue to stand with the people. It is confirmed that the oil refinery will not come up at Nanar because of opposition from the locals. People will not forgive those who are playing politics”. Shiv Sena isolated The Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemical Limited (RRPCL) was proposed to be set up in Ratnagiri district in 2015 when BJP- Shiv Sena government ruled the State. About 16,000-acre land spread in 17 villages in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg was earmarked for the project. The project is a joint venture comprising Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Compan...