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Former Maharashtra minister and son of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, said on Thursday he would meet the protesters against the Barsu refinery project in Ratnagiri, to show their solidarity. Residents of Barsu village in Ratnagiri protest against the refinery installation. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader urged the state government to hold talks with Barsu residents amid protests over the refinery project in the town.
"The government must have a real dialogue with the people of Barsu and work must not be done without proper consultation. We will meet the protesters and convey our solidarity to them," Thackeray said.
Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Prime Minister Eknath Shinde said he had a talk with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and assured him that the Barsu refinery project will only be achieved after winning the trust of all stakeholders, including local residents.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Shinde said: "I had a phone conversation with Sharad Pawar yesterday about the Barsu refinery project. Pawar-ji said that the state industry minister should tell him that the project will not be implemented by force. and that there will be no injustice." be done to the people."
"Nagpur Mumbai's Samrudhi Expressway had also been initially opposed by the people, but we are seeing the fruits of the project there. A final decision on the refinery project will be made after giving confidence to the farmers," he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shinde criticized Uddhav Thackeray and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for opposing the refinery project.
Speaking to reporters in Mahabaleshwar in his home district of Satara, Chief Minister Shinde supported the Barsu green refinery project and questioned MVA's sudden opposition to the project.
Citing a letter written by his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to locate the refinery in the region for the sake of development, the Prime Minister said that new job opportunities would open up for the locals as the project would bring worth of investment. of billions of rupees.
Shinde said: "It was then CM (Uddhav Thackeray), who gave the green signal to the project after the cancellation of the Nanar project. He even wrote to PM Modi asking for the implementation of the Barsu refinery project."
"After all that, it's hard to understand why Barsu is against it now. It's a matter of investigation," he said.
He added that the Samruddhi Mahamarg project had continued despite initial resistance from the opposition.
“Since then it has been a game changer for the state,” he said.
Criticizing the opposition for its double standards in carrying out projects intended to benefit the state, he said: "It is opposition just for fun. Soil tests are currently being carried out for the project with the consent of 60 to 70% of the inhabitants." .
Mr. Shinde assured that the project will only start after evaluating the soil analysis report, since it will determine if the land is suitable for a project of this nature.
And he added: "No brick will be placed without the consent of the inhabitants."
