India, Aug. 14 -- The talukas of Dahanu and Palghar are likely to lose 66.63 hectares (164.6 acres) of forest in Gargao and Khanivade villages. The Jawaharlal Nehru Ports Authority (JNPA), which is developing Vadhvan Port in Palghar district, has sought 'diversion' of this forest land for mining stones to be used in the construction. The Palghar district administration will now send the proposal to the state pollution control board.

G Vaidyanathan, chief general manager for port planning and development at JNPA, confirmed that the area was required for quarrying.

Of the 66.63 hectares, 2.53 hectares falls in the eco-sensitive taluka of Dahanu. Niranjan Diwakar, the deputy conservator of forests, Dahanu, said that the plot had "medium tr...