Palghar: A public hearing conducted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Sunday for the proposed environmental clearance of stone quarry projects at Gargaon in Palghar district witnessed strong opposition from local villagers and environmental activists. Despite the protests, the hearing was completed under heavy police security.The proposed quarries at Gargaon and Khaniwade in Boisar are intended to supply rock for the land reclamation works of the proposed Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VPPL). As part of the environmental clearance process, the MPCB organised a public hearing at Shigav-Khutad village in Boisar.Hundreds of villagers gathered outside the venue and staged a sit-in protest, alleging that the hearing was being conducted without adequately addressing their concerns over the project’s environmental and social impact.Vinit Patil of the Vadhvan Port Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti said the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report had been prepared only in English and had not been provided to the concerned gram panchayats in a language understood by local residents.Shigav sarpanch Dipti Sumda said local communities had already parted with land for the port project and would now face further displacement and environmental degradation due to large-scale quarrying. “The government should source the stone from elsewhere instead of destroying our villages,” she said.Another villager, Bharat Vayeda, demanded that the hearing be postponed, stating that many residents were unable to attend as they were engaged in agricultural work during the ongoing farming season.Despite the objections, officials proceeded with the public hearing amid tight police deployment. According to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, 232 villagers attended the hearing.
