Thousands March in Palghar Against Vadhavan Port Project

Thousands of Fisherflok, farmers and residents, protested outside Collector’s office in Palghar district of Maharashtra on January 19, demanding the scrapping of state government’s Vadhavan port project in the coastal town of Dahanu.

The protest began at Panch Patti Chowk and concluded at the Collector’s office after a 4–5 km march. It was organised by the Vadhavan Bunder Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti (VBVSS), which represents local residents, farmers, tribals and fisherfolk who oppose the Vadhavan project.

The Vadhavan Port was first proposed by the Maharashtra government in 1997 but was shelved in 1997–98 after strong local opposition. The project was revived in 2015 under the Narendra Modi-led government’s Sagarmala Programme and has since faced repeated protests.

VBVSS submitted a letter to the collector stating that the project is environmentally destructive and illegal, as it violates the Dahanu Environmental Protection Authority (DTEPA) order of 1998 and mentioned that the Supreme Court order clearly states Dahanu as an ‘eco-sensitive zone’.

Vaibhav Vaze (52), Secretary of the VBVSS, who submitted the letter to the Palghar collector, told The Hindu, “We have been opposing the project for 30 years. The petition is being considered by the Supreme Court; how can Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claim that work is underway? This amounts to contempt of court.”

Another rally was organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the All-India Kisan Sabha. The long march began from Charoti village in Dahanu and is scheduled to conclude at the Palghar Collector’s office on Tuesday (January 20, 2026).

CPI(M) Dahanu MLA Vinod Nikole, who participated in the protest, told The Hindu, “If our demands are not fulfilled, then we will take it to Mumbai.” He added, “Smart meters are a means to privatise electricity, making it unaffordable. MNREGA should continue, and provide at least 200 days of employment in a year.”