Land acquisition for Konkan refinery difficult: Industries Minister

MUMBAI: Industries minister Subhash Desai told the state assembly on Monday that land acquisition for the mega refinery proposed in the Konkan will be difficult, in view of the strong opposition by locals to the project.
"According to the 2013 land acquisition law, allows for acquisition to take place only after the consent of the land-owners. Given the opposition, land acquisition for the project has become difficult," he said.

"I have written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and apprised him of the local opposition to the project. I have asked him to declare the state government's stand on the project," Desai said.

He also said that Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray had met Fadnavis on the issue and he had assured him that the project would not be forced on people. "As a result, of this, the Memorandum of Understanding on the project was not signed at the Magnetic Maharashtra event," Desai said.

He said an area of 5,461 hectares had been earmarked for the project and land measurement had begun in November 2017. However, the process could not be completed owing to local opposition.
The government had issued notices under section 32 of of the Land Acquisition Act to 42,516 land owners.

However, As many as 9 gram sabhas in the 14 villages in the acquisition zone had passed resolutions opposing the refinery, he said.