Maroli is located 140 km north of Mumbai and is close to the Gujarat Maharashtra border. The site however is outside the 25 km buffer zone surrounding the ecologically fragile region of Dahanu. According to Save, the locals were not informed about the project, until the company hired an agency to conduct an environmental study in the area. Among the areas likely to be affected are Umergaon, Nargor, Phansa and Dhairi, says Save. The management has, however, clarified that the site for the port is yet to be decided, and reiterated its commitment tomaintaining environmental balance in the area.

According to the Natelco management, the Gujarat government had extensively surveyed the area before awarding the contract to them. Locals have therefore known of the project for at least four years. The management also met several local leaders as soon as they started survey work. The Unocal, Natelco combine was awarded the contract to construct a port estimated to cost Rs 1,500 crore by the Gujarat Maritime Board at Maroli after a global competitive bid. Unocal Bharat, a wholly owned subsidiary of Unocal Corporation, USA and Natelco have signed an MOU to form a joint venture styled Maroli Port & Harbour Ltd which is currently being structured. The 30 year concession agreement has been drawn up, and Natelco has hired a consultant to make it bankable. Data collection for the Environment Impact Assessment report, on the basis which the ministry of environment and forests will give approval to the project, has been completed as have geo-physical andgeo-technical studies. The company has a draft DPR ready and will be submitted later this month. The due diligence will be done by international consultants. Originally planned as an LNG handling driven project, the promoters have now decided to construct an all weather, multi cargo, full service port, which includes container and break bulk handling terminals. The LNG handling project to be taken up simultaneously will be taken up by a separate division. This was confirmed by the chief executive officer of Natelco's infrastructure division, K Raman.