While KBS secretary Chandra Shekhar Sagar claimed the protest would continue as the officials had failed to convince them on the issue, Bokharia and other officials -- including Ports Secretary A D Desai, senior bureaucrat S K Nanda and District Collector Pankaj Kumar -- claimed that they had achieved a ``breakthrough'' in the meeting.

They, however, refused to give any direct answers when asked why no agitating fishermen endorsed their claim.

Describing the meeting as ``positive'', Bokharia said,``We told them (the fishermen) that their apprehension would be addressed in the Detailed Project Report. The final decision about the construction of the port will be taken only after the survey team examines its affects on environment.''

Even Umagaon MLA Raman Patkar, who earlier opposed the port, declared that it was a must for Umargaon. ``It is a question of Gujarat's development,'' Patkar claimed, adding that he had earlier opposed the project as he was not fully aware of the facts.

The officials nevertheless admitted the failure on the part of government to take the fishermen into confidence. ``There has been some communication gap that had created a misunderstanding about the government's intention. But we have cleared it and the fishermen have now agreed not to oppose the port until a Detailed Project Report is prepared,'' Kumar claimed.

Pointing out that the project would commence only after the legal formalities had been completed, Kumar cleared the Gujarat Maritime Board was not the final authority on the matter. ``The condition laid down under the Environment Protection Act has to be fulfilled before the project can be commenced,'' he said.

However, confirming the fishermen's fears, Desai said, ``Some people might have to be rehabilitated. But they will be properly compensated. We will ensure that only minimum private land is acquired.''

Assuring the small fishermen that their livelihood would not be affected, Desai said that the port would in fact would bring prosperity to an extent that boat-owners could become trawler-owners.

As Gujarat's ports catered to only 35 per cent needs of India, at least 10 more ports would have to be developed on the State's seacoast, Desai further said.

A number of fishermen's organisations in South Gujarat, who also held a meeting with the minister, reportedly welcomed the government's decision. While Chandubahi, president of Gujarat Machhi Seva Sangh hailed the decision to built the port at Umargaon, president of Shree Gujarat Vahnvatu and Machhimar Sangh, Lallubhai Tandel, said that two lakh fishermen of South Gujarat would benefit if the port was developed.