Palghar Villagers and Political Leaders Intensify Resistance Against the Vadhavan Port Project

Protests in Varor

Hundreds of villagers and farmers gathered under a tarpaulin shelter in Varor village near Dahanu to protest the ₹76,220-crore Vadhavan port project. Fifty-six organisations, including tribal families and fishing communities, joined the resistance, stating that the project will destroy marine life and traditional fishing. Rice farmer Kalpana Devkar said residents own their land and fear the project will take their livelihoods away. Leaders from the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and CPI(M) attended the October 30, 2026 protest to support the villagers.

Official Plans and Concerns

The project involves partners Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Maharashtra Maritime Board. Plans include pushing the sea back to create about 1,448 hectares of new land, building a breakwater over 10 km long, and adding heavy dredging, roads, and rail lines. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated the port will boost the economy and make Palghar a 'Fourth Mumbai'. However, the Vadhavan Bandar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti rejected this vision, pointing out that official studies count 16 fishing villages, 5,333 households, and 20,809 fisherfolk in the area whose incomes depend directly on the sea.

Environmental and Legal Objections

Protesters raised concerns about environmental damage, including the loss of Adivasi land, forests, and mangroves. Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal accused the Union government of prioritizing an industrial house over local residents. Protesters also highlighted three specific gaps regarding the port: its classification as a Red Category project for handling bulk chemicals and crude oil rather than just containers, disputes over water depth measurements, and unaddressed questions during public hearings.

Context

Large-scale infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive coastal zones often spark conflict between state development goals and traditional resource-dependent communities. Dahanu taluka sits about 140 km north of Mumbai and has long held protected status due to its fragile ecosystem, making any major industrial expansion a focal point for environmental and land-rights disputes.