Locals hold 'rasta roko' against proposed Vadhavan port in Palghar, highway traffic affected

Respresentational Image. Protest against Vadhvan Port by locals were held in past too. File Pic/mid-day

Hundreds of people held a 'rasta roko' protest on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtra's Palghar on Thursday to oppose the proposed Vadhavan Port project in the district, bringing traffic to a halt for hours, reported news wire PTI.

The road blockade was held at the Charoti toll plaza on the highway between 12 noon to 2.30 pm, during which villagers and fishermen from the region waved black flags and raised slogans against the multi-crore greenfield port.

Vadhavan is a village in Dahanu, Palghar district. The local people are concerned that the project would affect their livelihoods and said that they want to hold a dialogue with the state government and the Centre so that their issues are addressed.

As per PTI report, Narayan Patil, president of the Vadhavan Port Virodhi Kruti Samiti (Anti-Vadhavan Port Action Committee) said that the local people are completely against this port. He said the government was indifferent to the concerns expressed by the locals and accused the authorities of pushing the project despite opposition.

More than 15 organisations are part of the action committee.

The Vadhavan Port, is a Rs 76,000 crore container port and is developed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). The JNPT and the Maharashtra Maritime Board and has received in-principle approval from the Centre in February 2020.

The Vadhwan Port recently got all environmental clearances by the Central government, Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced. The Port, which has one of the deepest drafts, will be a game-changer for Maharashtra, Fadnavis said. The local's protest comes amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may lay the foundation stone for the port by this month-end.

Heavy police deployment was put in place at the protest site. The traffic was affected for several hours as the protesters began gathering at the protest site from 10 am. The protest began at noon and ended by 2.30 pm, following which the movement of traffic was restored, PTI reported quoting police official.

Speaking at an media event recently, Fadnavis also said that Palghar district has always been dismissed as a backward district. With bullet train passing through and the port, the district will march forward.

In the past too, the locals have protested raising environmental concerns.

(With PTI inputs)