In August 2022, residents of Nanar and Barsu - Solgaon area in the state of Maharashtra decided to renew their campaign against the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL). This area is in Ratnagiri district, which lies in India's western coastal region. This part is also known as the Konkan coast.
RRPCL is a joint venture of Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. In 2017, when the project was first proposed, it was planned in Babulwadi village in Ratnagiri district. The project is likely to displace farmers and fisherfolk from seventeen villages, out of which fifteen are in Ratnagiri district and two in neighbouring Sindhudurg district along the western coast. Environmental activists fear that the project would harm the fragile biodiversity of the coastal areas in the Konkan region.
In 2018, around 15,000 residents of the affected villages had gathered to protest at Rajiv Gandhi Maidan in Rajapur tehsil in Ratnagiri district. Owing to the stiff resistance offered by community members, the then government was forced to agree to halt the project. Later the project site was shifted to a new location in Barsu-Solgaon but within the same district.
In 2022, the government of Maharashtra began talks for reviving the project. This is being opposed by community members living in the affected villages. The new site for the refinery in Barsu village is also home to ancient rock carvings, known technically as petroglyphs. Archaeologists have expressed concerns that locating the refinery in the village will have damage the petrogylphs. If implemented, this oil refinery will have a capacity to process 60 million metric tonnes of crude oil annually. RRPCL expects to provide employment to 1,50,000 people during the construction of the project and direct employment to 20,000 people upon completion, in addition to generating lakhs of indirect jobs.
On 12 February 2023, a Maharashtra Times reporter, Shashikant Warishe, who reported on the irregularities and the environmental and social impacts of the refinery, was killed in road accident. Locals claim that he was murdered for his investigative reporting against the project.
In April, the Maharashtra Government imposed section 144 in Ratnagiri to stop protestors from demonstrating and resisting the proposed survey of the site. However, the order had to be taken down as the court permitted people to resist.
In May 2023, the protest against Barsu refinery intensified as the government started soil testing for the construction of refinery. Locals tried to block the survey which led to clashed between police personnel and protesters. They said that nearly 4000 police personnel were deployed to conduct the survey. The police resorted to lathi charge amidst intense opposition by locals. Later, the leaders of Barsu Solgaon Panchkroshi Refinery Virodhi Sanghatana (BSPRV) were booked under Section 353 of IPC for obstructing public officials in conducting their duty. The leaders, fearing arrest had to run away to the jungles in Rantagiri for a week.
Under heavy police protection, the government completed the soil survey but the protest against the refinery kept intensifying. In 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election, the locals opposed the NDA government and supported the Shiv Sena UBT candidate who had opposed the project previously. The strong protest also forced the government to pause the project temporarily.
While the Shiv Sena UBT won the election from the region, the NDA made the government and restarted it's push for the project. In October 2024, the government declared 300 acres of land adjoining the refinery as industrial area.
Amidst continued protest, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri in January 2025 said that petrochemical refinery project in Ratnagiri was not viable due to its size — 60 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA ) — and the government is considering to setup three separate refineries of 20 MMPTA capacity each in three different locations of the country. However, the minister did not specify whether Ratnagiri will be one of the proposed locations for the three refineries. More clarity on this is awaited.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand to cancel the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against degradation of historical sites
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Grazing Land), Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
150
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Out on bail
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
No
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
They were produced before a magistrate, but there was a delay beyond 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Indian Penal Code, 1860
143, 147, 149, 341, 109, 186, 188
Maharashtra Police Act, 1951
37(1), 37(3), 135
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Neither were they informed, nor did they have access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled due to protests
Original Project Deadline
2022
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Water bodies, Agricultural land, Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://thewire.in/rights/thousands-in-maharashtra-are-opposing-what-could-be-globes-largest-oil-refinery>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
270000
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
2018
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited, Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Konkan Refinery Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, Barsu-Solgaon Panchkroshi
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
150
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Out on bail
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
No
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
They were produced before a magistrate, but there was a delay beyond 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Indian Penal Code, 1860
143, 147, 149, 341, 109, 186, 188
Maharashtra Police Act, 1951
37(1), 37(3), 135
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Neither were they informed, nor did they have access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
