Why are villagers in Maharashtra’s Dahanu objecting to the Vadhavan port project?

A soil survey by a Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) team at the proposed Vadhavan port in Dahanu was halted by locals on Thursday.

According to TOI, Around 3,000 protestors later submitted an application to Vangaon police that the surveyors cannot visit the site without giving them adequate notice.

The protestors raised slogans against the construction of the port that they believe will be detrimental to the environment and their livelihoods. On Wednesday locals made a 1.5km human chain as the port will affect their livelihoods.

They claim that the construction of the port will not only hurt the flora and fauna of Dahanu, but will also disrupt allied activities like fishing and farming.

The government had in February approved a proposal to set up a new major port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra at an investment of Rs 65,544 crore.

The new port will be developed on a landlord model under a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) as the lead partner with equity participation equal to or more than 50 per cent to implement the project.