Local residents have demanded higher compensation for land being acquired for the proposed Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra’s Palghar district and also sought priority in employment at the upcoming mega infrastructure project.
As reported by PTI, the demands were raised during a meeting held on Wednesday at the Sub-Divisional Officer’s office in Dahanu, days after villagers staged protests against a technical survey at the site, claiming the project would affect their livelihoods.
The meeting was convened by the district administration to address concerns related to the project and share accurate information with the protestors, an official statement said.
Assistant District Collector Vishal Khatri, Deputy District Collector Mahesh Sagar, gram panchayat members from Varor, Dhakti Dahanu, and Chinchani, representatives of the fishing community, citizens, and senior police officials participated in the discussion.
The residents demanded increased compensation for the land and prioritised employment for locals under the proposed Vadhvan Port project.
In response, the deputy district collector informed attendees that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), the nodal agency for the port, has agreed to prioritise local employment and that all concerns would be forwarded to the government.
The district administration reiterated its commitment to addressing public concerns regarding the port’s development.
The ₹76,200 crore all-weather greenfield deep draft major port at Vadhvan was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024. It will be constructed by Vadhvan Port Project Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) jointly formed by JNPA and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), with a 74:26 shareholding ratio.