Dahanu, Feb 25: While on one hand senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar is publicly opposing the proposed 29-berth international port at Vadhavan, Dahanu, on the other Congress party workers in Dahanu have launched a signature campaign lobbying for the project to start work immediately.Sharad Pawar, in a campaign meeting held at Virar on Monday for candidate Ram Pandagle who is contesting from the Mumbai north constituency, had said he along with Pandagle and party workers will oppose the project.
However, in Dahanu, Congress councillors and party workers appear to be campaigning for former state minister and Congress candidate Shankar Nam who supports the project, which according to environmentalists here will spell disaster for the one-lakh-odd fisherfolk. The 29-berth port has already attracted severe criticism from the locals.
According to Danesh Irani, an environmentalist, Congress seems to be playing a double game as the local Congress party workers are working towards having a port here. They havebeen able to organise traders, builders and farmers - all with vested interests - to lobby for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navitation Company (P&O).
The support extended by local Congress workers will prove beneficial for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate advocate Chintaman Wanaga.
Copyright(c)1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
