Amid refinery stir, Maharashtra industries minister meets Pawar

MUMBAI: A day after local protests flared up against the proposed refinery project in Ratnagiri’s Barsu village, industries minister Uday Samant met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and later announced that the district administration would hold a meeting with the villagers to clear misunderstandings about the project.
The meeting comes a day after Pawar spoke to Samant on the phone. “I responded to his queries and assured him that the administration is keen on convincing the villagers,” said Samant. Chief minister Eknath Shinde had also spoken to Pawar, he said.
Samant said district authorities in Ratnagiri will hold a meeting with 300-350 villagers on Thursday and make a detailed presentation. “All the villagers are not opposed to the project. There are also those who support the project. We…want to convince the protesters,” Samant said.
Samant clarified that only soil testing was underway at the site and the result would determine whether the project would be located there. “No survey is being conducted. Soil testing is underway. Only after that can the company decide if the project can be located there. Things are at a very preliminary stage,” he said. He said women who were part of the protest on Tuesday had been accompanied to their homes.
Meanwhile, Pawar said, “In my opinion, before undertaking a major project, the administration must understand the views of the villagers. If they are against the project, then efforts should be made for a via-media.”
Pawar said discontentment appears to be brewing among the villagers. The government must take serious note of people’s sentiments, NCP chief said.
“If a new formula comes out, it will be a happy situation. If there is no solution, dialogue must be held with the agitating villagers. Take the local villagers into confidence for finding out a solution,” Pawar said.
Pawar said the opposition has been pointing out that major industries have been shifting to other states, and that the Konkan region was being neglected.
“Under such circumstances, it is the responsibility of the government to understand the woes of local villagers. Efforts should be made to clear their misunderstandings and if there is a need, an alternate site should be found,” Pawar said.