Panel to probe if politicians & officials have bought land near refinery: Samant

Amid allegations that politicians and government officials have purchased land around the proposed refinery in Ratnagiri district’s Barsu-Solgaon, state Industries Minister Uday Samant on Saturday announced a single-member committee headed by the district collector to probe the charges.

With protests continuing in Rajapur taluka by villagers against the multi-billion dollar petrochemical refinery project, Samant visited Rajapur on Saturday and held a meeting with public representatives of the area, including Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Vinayak Raut, administration officials and others.

While anti-refinery activists and villagers were also called to the meeting, villagers did not attend it saying they were called at a short notice.