Written by Sabah Virani Mumbai | January 20, 2026 07:11 AM IST 2 min readResidents march in Palghar protesting Vadhavan port and other projects, citing environmental damage and lack of local consent. (Express File)Around 20,000 residents of Palghar district took out a protest march on Monday against the proposed Vadhavan port and a slew of other infrastructure projects, citing environmental damage.The march, organised under the banner of the Vadhavan Bandar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti (VBVSS), saw men and women walk nearly 5 km from Palghar railway station to the district Collector’s office, demanding that the government scrap plans for the Vadhavan port, the proposed airport, Murbhe port, the Kelve textile park and the Fourth Mumbai project.“Lest the government believe that there is no more opposition among the local fishermen, adivasis and locals, the protest march was held to give a clear message,” said Vaibhav Vaze, secretary of the VBVSS.The protest was also aimed at countering what organisers described as misleading claims by the government about local support for the projects.“In light of the chief minister’s misleading statements that the people of Palghar are welcoming the projects, we decided to hold a morcha to show the strength of our displeasure,” said Devendra Tandel, president of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti. “The projects will not disadvantage the local fishermen and farmers, while benefiting outsiders.”A memorandum signed by 11 fishermen and local unions was submitted to the Collector and addressed to the chief minister. The letter lists objections ranging from environmental damage to procedural lapses. It recalls a 1998 order of the Dahanu Environmental Protection Authority (DEPA) declaring the region an eco-sensitive zone and alleges that the social and environmental impact assessments conducted for the Vadhavan port are riddled with errors.The letter also points to cases pending before the Supreme Court, claiming that despite this, the administration is pushing ahead with preparatory work.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:MaharashtraPalghar