Vadhavan port is a threat to the environment and livelihood of Palghar’s people: protesters

Thousands of protesters held a objection and began a “long march” connected Monday (January 19, 2026), demanding the scrapping of the Maharashtra Government’s Vadhavan port project successful the coastal municipality of Dahanu, successful Palghar district. They besides called for implementation of the Forest Rights Act, and rejected changes to the MNREGA scheme.

Organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the All India Kisan Sabha, the agelong march began from Charoti colony successful Dahanu; it volition reason astatine the collector’s office successful Palghar connected Tuesday (January 20, 2026).

“The Vadhavan larboard needs to beryllium stopped due to the fact that it volition destruct the livelihood of radical successful Palghar, particularly fisherfolk. We volition proceed protests, until our demands are accepted,” said Ashok Dhawale, National President of the All India Kisan Sabha. He besides demanded that ownership of the onshore beryllium returned to the tribals nether the Forest Rights Act.

Dahanu Taluka Environmental Protection Authority (DTEPA) had refused clearance to the Vadhavan port. Another effort was made to unafraid clearance successful 2015, aft the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Maharashtra Maritime Board signed an MOU to make the port. At that constituent the, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) categorised ports arsenic non-industrial operations, while the Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change (MoEF & CC) stated that port-related activities bash not autumn nether the reddish category, clearing the mode for the project.

CPI(M) Dahanu MLA Vinod Nikole, who took portion successful the protest, said, “If our demands are not fulfilled, past we volition instrumentality it to Mumbai.” He highlighted that radical are bushed of hefty energy bills. The medication indispensable wantonness astute meters and instrumentality to the aged meters. “Smart meters are a means to privatise electricity, making it unaffordable. MNREGA should continue, and supply astatine slightest 200 days of employment successful a year,” he added. 

Second protest

Another rally was organised by the Vadhavan Bunder Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti (VBVSS) successful Palghar, from Panch Patti Chowk to the Collector’s office. The VBVSS represents local residents, farmers, tribals, and fisherfolk, who are opposed to the Vadhavan project.

In a missive to the collector, the VBVSS said the task was not just environmentally destructive, but besides amerciable nether the law, since it violates the Dahanu Environmental Protection Authority (DTEPA) bid of 1998. “The Supreme Court bid intelligibly states that since Dahanu is an “eco-sensitive zone”, mounting up a larboard present would beryllium environmentally harmful. Besides, if the Vadhavan port is built, “the accepted sportfishing concern of thousands of families volition beryllium destroyed.”

“We person been opposing the task for 30 years. The petition is being considered by the Supreme Court; however tin Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assertion that enactment is underway? This amounts to contempt of court,” said Vaibhav Vaze (52), Secretary of the VBVSS, who presented the missive to the Palghar collector. 

VBVSS besides pointed retired that during the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment, the objections raised by radical successful nationalist hearings were “deliberately ignored”. The Social Impact Assessment does not contiguous immoderate concrete and legal program for rehabilitation of fishermen, the letter said.