After facing a farmers’ protest march last week, Mumbai on Tuesday will be preparing for another demonstration, this time from 5,000 farmers and landowners who are opposing the coastal Ratnagiri refinery project in the Konkan region.

Activist and convener of Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Virodhi Samiti (KVPVS), Satyajit Chavan, who is marshalling the people for the protest rally, told BusinessLine it is a one-day protest against land acquisition for the refinery project. The locals feel that emissions from the refinery will adversely affect horticulture crops and fishing.

State Industry Minister Subash Desai had announced six months ago that the project has been cancelled and there will be no land acquisition.

Fifth agitation

His recommendation made to a High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Maharashtra government should be implemented. This is the fifth agitation being held while the State Assembly is in session.

“The agitations are peaceful and the people want the State government to take cognisance of our demands,” he said.

Chavan said the Industry Ministers recommendations have been made to the HPC but Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has not taken any note of the matter.

The notification for land acquisition should be cancelled. Tomorrow, the protesters only want to meet Fadnavis and not any other Ministers, as he has the power to cancel the land acquisition.

KVPVS has also invited people affected by other mega projects such as bullet train, DMIC and Mahuland other mega projects. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also extended its support to the protest.

The context

BJP Government wants to build the 60-million-tonne refinery in the coastal Ratnagiri district, which has the potential to enhance the country’s crude oil refinery capacity and provide jobs to the locals.

But the fate of the multi-billion dollar project still remains undecided as the BJP and Shiv Sena, who share power in Maharashtra, have not arrived at a consensus over the project.

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