India, April 7 -- The construction of a highway from Varor village to Tawa village in Palghar to give high-speed direct connectivity to the proposed Vadhavan Port will extract an environmental toll of 72,790 trees, 21 ponds and 209 wells and borewells, besides necessitating the demolition of 611 houses. Vadhavan Port is being developed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board in Palghar district.

The highway will pass through Dahanu and Palghar talukas. In the latter, villages such as Aakegavhan, Aakoli, Chinchare, Ravte, Gargaon, Sumdi, Shigaon, Khutad, Rani Shigaon, Nanivali and Ambede will be affected. The survey shows that 573 houses and constructions will be pulled down, 17,391 forest trees, 4...