Maharashtra: CM Eknath Shinde slams MVA for opposing Barsu refinery project

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. File Pic

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday slammed Uddhav Thackeray and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for opposing the Barsu Refinery project in Ratnagiri district.

Speaking to reporters at Mahabaleshwar in his native Satara district, CM Shinde backed the Barsu green refinery project and questioned the MVA's sudden opposition to it.

Citing a letter written by his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to set up the refinery in the region in the interest of development, the CM said new employment avenues would open up for locals as the project would bring investments worth thousands of crores.

Also Read: Shiv Sena (UBT) to launch agitation against refinery in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district

Shinde said, "It was then CM (Uddhav Thackeray), who gave the green signal to the project after the Nanar project was cancelled. He even wrote to PM Modi seeking implementation of the Barsu Refinery project."

"After all this, it is difficult to understand why the Barsu is being opposed now. It's a matter of research," he said.

The CM added that the Samruddhi Mahamarg project was continued despite the Opposition's resistance initially. "It has since become a game-changer for the state," he said.

Slamming the Opposition over its double standards in running down projects meant at benefitting the state, the CM said, "This is opposition just for the sake of it. The soil testing for the project is being done currently with the consent of 60-70 per cent of locals."

He assured that the project would start only after assessing the soil testing report, as it will determine if the land is suitable for a project of this nature.

However, he said not a brick will be laid without the consent of locals.

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