In 2012, the Gujarat government gave a go-ahead to the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to construct a port at Nargol, 120 kilometres south of Surat. It is one of the eight greenfield ports being developed by the GMB.
In June 2015, Umargam Taluka Kinara Bachao Utkarsh Samiti (UTKBUS) submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the project. Cargo Motors Private Limited, however, stated that the DPR had been submitted to the government and that the other reports were under preparation since the first phase was off-shore and did not require land acquisition. Besides the DPR and EIA reports, the UTKBUS also demanded copies of the disaster management plan, environmental management plan, risk assessment report and rehabilitation master plan for the proposed project.
In a public hearing held in 2015, around 10,000 people protested against the port, and more than 200 police personnel were deployed. At least 5,000 people, including 10 village sarpanches, sub-sarpanches, former sarpanches, community leaders and non-profits protested in writing. Magan, president of the Coast Guard Committee, said, "The people of the coastal area had lived there since colonial times and the land belongs to the fisherfolk."
More than 40 per cent people depend on the sea for their livelihood, which is now being threatened by the proposed port. The residents and fisherfolk are also worried about the imminent danger to their environment and have agreed to cooperate only if the project does not pose any risk to it.
Meanwhile, the then Forest Minister and Umargam MLA Ramanlal Patkar held a meeting with taluk Sarpanches at his Dhodipada residence to discuss the Nargol port project, urging them not to pass resolutions against it. He allegedly warned of police action for hindering government work and stressed the project's public interest.
Patkar told Divya Bhaskar that opposition to the port is unwarranted, as the government has allocated significant funds for the area's progress. He denied threatening sarpanches, emphasising cooperation for development and urging support for the project.
In July 2019, the GMB cancelled the contract of Cargo Motors Private Limited as it failed to develop the port within the stipulated seven-year period. In 2021, the Gujarat government invited global bids for development of the ambitious Nargol greenfield port. However, it failed to draw a single bidder when the deadline ended on 4 February 2022.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled
Original Project Deadline
2022
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Water bodies
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/why-nargol-port-project-in-gujarat-failed-to-find-any-takers-101647890526587.html> Another reason for the project's stalling is that developers no longer find the proposed site economically viable. (Detailed in the article linked here as source).
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
4000
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
2012
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Environmental Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Maritime Board
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Cargo Motors Limited, Israel Ports Company
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Residents, Fisherfolk
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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