Following directives from the National Green Tribunal and the Gujarat High Court to stop the excessive chemical pollution in the Bhadar river, caused by the textile industries of Jetpur, the Gujarat Government proposed the Jetpur-Porbandar deep sea effluent disposal pipeline in 2020. According to this Rs. 675 crore project, the treated effluents collected from two existing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) at Jetpur and Bhat Gam, respectively, and one proposed CETP at Manpar Derdi would be released into deep sea from the coast of Porbandar. This would be executed through a 114-kilometer-long underground conveyance pipeline crossing 41 villages from Jetpur to Porbandar and a 5 km offshore deep-sea outfall originating from a collection sump in Chikasa, a village in Porbandar.
The project, however, has faced strong opposition from the local fisherfolk, inland farmers, and environmental activists. They contend that releasing 80 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of treated chemical effluent into the sea will destroy critical fish breeding habitats and fish populations, contaminate marine life and jeopardize the fishing industry economy that yields 6 lakh tonnes annually and generates ₹5,000 crore in seafood exports every year. Additionally, local farmers express concern over potential soil contamination and crop loss from pipeline leakages along agricultural tracts.
Meanwhile, on October 28, 2021, Jetpur Industrial Pipeline Project Private Limited was awarded the work order for the project, expecting to complete it within 36 months of the work order date. As news of the project spread, the Kharva (traditional fisherfolk) community of Porbandar organized local meetings, raised public awareness, and sent formal appeal letters to the District Collector requesting the cancellation of the project.
The matter triggered an even stronger opposition to the project after the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance was granted in January, 2024. It also led to the formation of a grassroots committee called ‘Save Porbandar Sea’. With the committee’s help, Shree Porbandar Samasta Kharva Gnati organised a massive rally on 15 December, 2024. Hundreds of people of Porbandar dressed in black clothes took out a symbolic "shamshan yatra” (cremation march) to oppose the Jetpur-Porbandar pipeline. Soon after, on December 26, 2024, Porbandar observed a complete voluntary commercial shutdown (Porbandar Sajjad Bandh), with local merchant associations shutting down major commercial hubs, including Soni Bazar and M.G. Road, in solidarity with the fishing community. People from nearby coastal towns also observed the strike. Fishing union leaders warned that if the state proceeded with deep-sea dumping, over 300,000 fisherfolk across Gujarat's 1,600 km coastline would launch statewide street demonstrations.
In February 2025, the Gujarat Samast Kharva Samaj and the Shree Porbandar Machhimar Boat Association challenged the project in court by filing a writ petition (Special Civil Application No. 2333/2025) in the Gujarat High Court against the Union of India, State of Gujarat, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, and Jetpur Industrial Pipeline Project Private Limited. The petitioners argued that discharging industrial effluent into marine commons violates Article 21 (Right to Livelihood), Article 48-A (Environmental Protection), and Article 51A(g) of the Constitution. They sought the cancellation of the CRZ Clearance and alleged that the proposed discharge of effluent into the sea would violate the Water Act, 1974 and the Wildlife Act, 1972. The High Court issued formal show-cause notices to the respondents. While state assembly disclosures reveal that over ₹108 crore has been spent on the Jetpur pipeline infrastructure, physical execution remains stalled on the ground due to ongoing public resistance and pending judicial review.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the CRZ Clearance
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Type of Land
Common
Coastal
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled
Original Project Deadline
2024
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Fishing, Agricultural land, Conservation / protection of ecosystems and species, Food and Subsistence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gujarats-deep-sea-pipeline-remains-a-non-starter/article38314925.ece> , https://icsf.net/newss/gujarat-hc-seeks-response-on-fisherfolks-effluent-petition/
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
675
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Environmental Law, Environmental Law, Environmental Law
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of fundamental rights
Violation / Dilution / Non-implementation of CRZ Notification
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
High Court of Gujarat
Case Number
C/SCA/2333/2025
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat State Forest and Environment Department, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited (GWIL)
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Jetpur Industrial Pipeline Project Private Limited
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Gujarat Samast Kharva Samaj, Shree Porbandar Samast Kharva Gnati, Shree Porbandar Macchimar Boat Association, Shree Akhil Gujarat Macchimar Mahamandal (AGMM), Save Porbandar Sea
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
