Villagers in Palghar protest against Vadhavan port project
Protesters claim the proposed deep-water port will destroy local livelihoods and the environment near Dahanu.
Thousands of villagers gathered in Varor on Friday, October 30, 2026, to protest the construction of the Vadhavan port near Dahanu, according to The Hindu. The protest included tribal families, farmers, and fishing communities who say the project will damage the coast and marine life.
The Vadhavan Bandar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, which leads the local opposition, stated that 16 fishing villages in the project area comprise 5,333 households and 20,809 fisherfolk. The group expressed concerns regarding how dredging and reclamation will affect the tidal ecosystem and fishing grounds.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal accused the Union government of prioritising an industrial house over Palghar. He said the project puts the livelihoods of local farmers and fishermen at risk and stated the fight would continue until the port is scrapped.
The project is a partnership between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, with an estimated cost of Rs 76,220 crore. Plans involve creating 1,448 hectares of new land and building a breakwater more than 10 km long.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated the port will change the state's economy and bring lakhs of jobs. He has pledged that locals will receive top priority for 10 lakh employment opportunities at the port.