Overview
- Over 10,000 fisherfolk, Adivasis, farmers and residents marched to the Palghar district collector’s office and filed a memorandum seeking cancellation of the Vadhvan Port and other mega projects.
- Organised by CPI(M) and the All India Kisan Sabha, the mobilization featured speeches pledging continued action, with leaders saying they will escalate protests if authorities do not act.
- Dahanu Taluka Environmental Protection Authority previously refused clearance for the port, and related litigation is pending in the Supreme Court, with a re-survey of the project under way.
- Protesters cited plans to build the port 6.5 km offshore with about 4,000 acres of reclamation and a 10.5 km breakwater, warning of a 12 km restricted zone that would hit roughly 2,000 boats and more than 20,000 livelihoods.
- Community groups allege public objections were ignored in assessments and say rehabilitation plans are inadequate, while district officials stated the submissions will be examined.