Indian mining giant Adani Enterprise faces a big setback in Australia after massive protests were held against the coal mining company’s proposed Carmichael coal mine. The proposed $16.5 billion project has been delayed for years over environmental and financing issues. Environmentalists believe that the project poses a threat to the Great Barrier Reef and would increase global warming.

The project saw a huge uproar on the sands of the Bondi Beach in Sydney as thousands of protesters gathered for the “Stop Adani Movement”. More than 1000 people held placards with the slogan “Go Home Adani” at the beach to show their total with the controversial project.

Simon Fosterling, a Sydney resident, raised concerns over environmental issues if the project gets a clearance. As quoted by PTI, Fosterling said, “If this mine does go ahead it drives us into a dirty future and Australia is a country that’s smarter than that.”

watch video:

Sydney ‘Stop Adani’ campaigner Isaac Astill also called the proposed mine project as an international issue. “It’s going to be the biggest coal mine in the southern hemisphere at a time when our climate is crumbling,” Astill said. “It’s an international issue and that’s why we’re seeing people around the world and in Australia coming out in their thousands to say no to Adani”, said Astill according to a report by PTI.

However, Adani Australia CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj has refuted the claims and said the company’s focus is to create jobs and the project has its own support group. “We are focussed.. the project is needed in the community and we have their whole support,” Janakaraj was quoted by the PTI.