No MOU on refinery during Modi’s visit, says minister

The disgruntled industries minister Subhash Desai on Thursday strongly stressed on his stand against the proposed petrochemical refinery project at Nanar in Rajapur tehsil of Konkan. Desai, leader of Shiv Sena said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project will not be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and the ambitious investment summit of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

PM Modi is expected to visit Mumbai on Sunday, February 18. According to the schedule finalised by industries department, the MoU that are expected to be signed includes Ratnagiri Refinery which is on top priority. However, Shiv Sena is against the project since it was announced. The project is expected investment of Rs 1.45 lakh and will displace 11 villages in Rajapur tehsil by the project. Shiv Sena legislator Rajan Salvi and Vinayak Raut, member of parliament has initiated for the protest against the project.

A meeting was held between Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray, the Sena president at the official residence of CM on Friday evening. The meeting went for almost 45 minutes wherein the Nanar project was discussed. The representatives of Project Affected People (PAPs) along with Desai, Salvi were present in this meeting.

Desai, while speaking with media after meeting said, “The MoU will not be signed for petrochemical project during the investment summit. Any project needs consent of 70 percent people from the affected villages. However, 78 percent people have opposed this project. In such a situation, the state cannot push it,” said Desai. He added, this issue was discussed wherein we strongly opposed it.