Organisation opposing Nanar refinery seeks help of Cong, MNS

The Konkan Refinery Prakalp Virodhi Sangharsh Sanghatna, an organisation opposing the setting up of a mega-refinery at Nanar in Ratnagiri district, today sought the help of the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to carry foward its fight.

A delegation met Congress' state chief Ashok Chavan and MNS chief Raj Thackeray today.

"Raj Thackeray has assured us that his party will support our stand. The decision to scrap the project is not in the hands of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis but the BJP high command," said Rajendra Phatarpekar, a member of the delegation.

They later met Chavan who said that the government should accept the fact that local residents were against the decision as they were concerned about the environmental pollution the refinery might cause.

"It will lead to the destruction of mango orchards and cashew plantations in the Konkan region. It is a question of survival for local residents," Chavan said.

Chavan assured the delegation that he would visit the area and study the issue in detail.

He also accused the Shiv Sena of hypocrisy and said that it should withdraw support to the BJP-led government over the setting up of the refinery.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, two days ago, had asserted that his party would not allow the project to take-off.

Sources said that Thackeray might visit Nanar on April 23 to review the situation there.

Phatarpekar, meanwhile, dismissed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's claim that the project will provide direct and indirect employment to over one lakh people.

Phatarpekar said that people from Konkan were happy with farming and did not want jobs.