Umargam fishermen protest new port project

Spearheading the movement against the proposed port is Bandar Hatao Samiti. Claimed Samiti Convenor Colonel (retired) Pratap Save, “After keeping us in dark for about five years, the State government seems to be hell bent upon developing a mega commercial port. It is also playing tricks to convince us that the port will benefit local people.”

Citing one such instance, Save said that the Valsad collector on July 4 had called all taluka heads and students studying in zilla panchayat schools to his office to educate them on how to conduct themselves in the event of an cyclone. But, Save alleged,it turned out to be “coaxing exercise” where the only matter discussed was the benefits of the port.

Port officer G G Pandey, when contacted, claimed the meeting was called to remove misconceptions about the port. “Many people are ill-informed about the project which will actually benefit them. But they are being misguided,” he added.

But if the port was to benefit them why did the government not take them into confidence, questions Save, adding that he came to know about the proposed port only on February 26 this year.

“Not that we had not observed some unusual activities likes surveys, drilling that was going on coastal areas of Umargam for some time. But on enquiry, they introduced themselves as ONGC officials, claiming that they were looking for oil,” Save alleged.

According to the people in Umargam, while 35,000 fishermen will be directly affected with the development of the port, the entire population of about 2.53 lakh people will be affected indirectly. While Dehri — a village on thesouthern coast of taluka — which houses many sanatoriums for tuberculosis patients would be displaced, the chiku, mango and coconut orchards which add to its natural beauty will be destroyed.

Pandey, however, claimed that no land will be acquired. Neither would any fisherman loose his livelihood, he said, adding that on the contrary the area will be developed.

Save, maintaining his stand, said that the authorities should try to use the Mumbai port (160 km) and Kandla port (180 km) to its full capacity instead of developing a new one.

Meanwhile Pandey held that it was not possible to build a port anywhere. It can be built only where it is technically and economically viable, he said, adding that the proposed port would save lot money on transporting cargo to other ports.

With the State government “keen to develop Umargam”, it remains to be seen how political parties deal with the the fishermen, especially when the general elections are round the corner.