India, June 16 -- A draft proposal by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to convert more than 100 hectares of residential and commercial land across four Uran villages into industrial use has triggered strong opposition from villagers and environmentalists, who fear it will worsen the fragile coastal ecology while limiting future housing and employment opportunities.

The draft notification, issued on June 6, covers 122.1 hectares in Funde, Jaskhar, Jasai and Savarkhar villages. It seeks to rezone 105.85 hectares, 54.24 hectares at Funde-Jaskhar (commercial to industrial-commercial), 20.94 hectares at Jasai (residential to industrial), 15.58 hectares at Savarkhar (commercial to industrial), 12.16 hectares at Jaskhar (commercial to...