Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the Maharashtra government will take all measures to ensure that the livelihood of fishermen is not affected in case of the development of Wadhwan port. He said the government will provide with equipment, infrastructure and space required for fishing.
Fadnavis was replying to a question in the Maharashtra Legislative Council about the effect of the development of the port on the livelihood of the fishermen community.
“The government will not let the livelihood of fishermen get affected due to this project. Special care will be taken to ensure they have access to the sea and equipment. The government will provide advanced boats and fishing equipment if required, at no cost to the fishermen’s families,” he said.
Over the past few years multiple protests from the fishermen community have taken place over the state government’s plan to reclaim 5,000 hectares of land from sea for the
Wadhwan port near Dahanu bordering Gujarat.
Over two decades ago, the Maharashtra government and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) planned the port at Wadhwan. The project was tweaked with time and the government planned to reclaim the sea. This was done by the government to win over the villagers. However, it has been stalled due to protests from the fishermen
community, who also moved the National Green Tribunal over the issue.
The location has been selected due to its proximity to the Western Railway line connecting Mumbai and the Delhi Mumbai Freight Corridor. In November this year, fishermen from across the state also staged protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, demanding scrapping of the project.