Locals demand priority in jobs at Vadhvan Port, want higher pay against land acquisition

PALGHAR: (Jul 3) Local residents demanded higher compensation for their land to be acquired for the proposed Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra’s Palghar district and also sought priority in jobs at the mega project.

They put up these demands during a meeting held at the Sub-Divisional Officer’s office at Dahanu in the district on Wednesday, days after protests by a section of villagers against the technical survey at the site, claiming the project would snatch their livelihoods.

The deputy district collector informed attendees to answer, that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), the nodal agency for the port, got ready 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.

The meeting was organised by the district administration to address concerns surrounding the ambitious project and to “provide proper information” to the agitators about it, an official statement said.

Source : PTI