Palghar villagers and opposition leaders harden protests against Vadhavan port project

UPDATE - follow-up to Vadhavan port project faces continued resistance from Palghar villagers: Local villagers, Adivasi families, and fishing communities in Palghar have intensified their opposition to the ₹76,220-crore Vadhavan port project, joined by several political leaders at a protest gathering in Varor.

Protests and Opposition

The Varor protest on November 2, 2026, drew participants from 56 organisations, alongside political figures including Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal, Sena (UBT) MLA Ambadas Danve, and former MLAs Hitendra Thakur and Kapil Patil. Protesters argue the deep-draft project will damage marine life, threaten traditional fishing grounds, and displace farmers from land farmed for generations.

Project Plans

The project involves partners like the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Maharashtra Maritime Board. Plans include pushing back the sea to create 1,448 hectares of new land, building a breakwater over 10 km long, heavy dredging, and adding industrial development. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the port, stating it will bring lakhs of jobs and create a 'Fourth Mumbai'.

Community Concerns

The Vadhavan Bandar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti points out that 16 fishing villages with 5,333 households and 20,809 fisherfolk depend on the sea. Residents also raised concerns over environmental gaps, including the port's classification under Central Pollution Control Board rules, water depth readings, and public hearing responses.

Context

Vadhavan is a coastal stretch in Dahanu taluka, which is protected as an ecologically sensitive area known for its farms, forests, and fisheries. Large infrastructure projects in such coastal and ecologically fragile zones often face intense scrutiny and resistance from local communities who rely on traditional livelihoods.