Opposition to Keni Greenfield Port Intensifies as Hundreds March from Ankola to Karwar
Residents, farmers, fishermen, and activists demand the permanent cancellation of the proposed Keni Greenfield Port, citing serious environmental and livelihood concerns.
The movement against the proposed Keni Greenfield Commercial Port in Ankola taluk gathered momentum as hundreds of people participated in a massive foot march from Ankola to Baleguli before holding a rally in Karwar and submitting a memorandum to the District Collector.
The protest, organised by the Sarva Samajagala Hita Rakshana Vedike, began with participants paying floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Ankola. Representatives of various organisations, farmers, fishermen, and local residents joined the march to express their opposition to the port project.
Protesters said the proposed port would cause irreversible damage to the fragile coastal ecosystem of Uttara Kannada district. They warned that the project could severely affect marine biodiversity, fishing, agriculture, tourism, and the livelihoods of thousands of local families.
The organisers pointed out that peaceful protests against the project have been ongoing since November 2024. These have included sit ins, satyagrahas, and signature campaigns. They also noted that more than 10,000 people had participated in a public environmental hearing earlier, where overwhelming opposition to the project was expressed.
Despite the large scale public resistance, the government has not yet announced a final decision on the project, which has increased public dissatisfaction, the protesters said.
In their memorandum, the protesters also demanded a high level investigation into alleged illegal land acquisition and the activities of land mafias in and around the proposed project area.
The organisers clarified that they were not opposed to development but wanted the government to promote sustainable alternatives that protect the environment while supporting coastal tourism, agriculture, and fishing. They urged the government to permanently cancel the Keni Greenfield Port project.
The protest was attended by office bearers of several organisations, leaders from different political parties, and members of the Sarva Samajagala Hita Rakshana Vedike.