Karwar
In Uttara Kannada’s Ankola, the proposed construction of a private commercial port by J.S.W. The company has sparked widespread protests. The anti-port agitation committee has called for an Ankola bandh to oppose the project.
Today, shopkeepers across Ankola closed their businesses in support of the bandh, and various local organizations joined the protest, bringing the town to a complete standstill. Members of the anti-port committee conducted processions in different parts of the city, symbolically carrying an effigy representing the J.S.W. Company’s project. Demonstrators gathered near Jai Hind Circle, expressing their anger and frustration against both the government and the private company backing the port initiative.
Fishermen participating in the protest emphasized that no commercial port should be constructed in the area under any circumstances. They argued that the project directly threatens their livelihoods, as several plots of land have already been cleared for port development. The protesters insisted that the government must protect the interests of the local fishing community and prevent any further displacement or disruption. They called for immediate measures to safeguard fishermen’s lands and warned against repeating mistakes that could force them into hardship again.
The demonstration reflects growing tension between development projects and the rights of traditional communities in Ankola, highlighting the need for sustainable planning that balances economic ambitions with local livelihoods.
