EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
DAHANU, Nov 17: Shouting slogans and waving banners which read `P&O hatao Dahanu bachao', thousands of fishermen, farmers, tribals and artisans from Vadhwan village today surrounded the local government office protesting against the multi-berth port to be built by an Australian transnational, P&O Ports Ltd.
The locals, organised under the banner of People's Alliance for Implementation of Law were irked by the State government's ignorance of the eco-fragile status of Dahanu and for allegedly allowing a multi-national to ``break the law of the land''. Leaders cutting across party lines, vowed that they would not let the company to even lay a foundation stone of the port, leave alone completion of the project in record time. The leaders said their agitation would be non-violent, according to sources.
The Dahanu area has been identified as an ecologically fragile region as per the Dahanu notification and any change in the land use pattern has been prohibited by the Supreme Court. Ecological studies conducted by National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute had also confirmed the eco-fragile nature of the area.
According to the protesters, the 29-berth port and the ancillary industries that it would attract would play havoc with the ecological balance of Dahanu.
The ecologists fear that about 10,000-odd fishermen' families from villages around Vadhavan would be worst affected if the port becomes a reality.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Read Original at : http://www.financialexpress.com/old/ie/daily/19971118/32250403.html
