Chimbel villagers harden stance against Unity Mall, to continue protest till govt scraps project

Panaji: Amid support from political parties, activists, and the public, the Chimbel villagers at the mahasabha on Sunday declared that they would intensify their agitation and continue until govt scraps the twin projects—Unity Mall and a 17-storey Prashaasan Stambh. The villagers warned of continuing their hunger strike, as well as moving the protest outside the offices of the Town and country planning (TCP) department and the directorate of panchayats (DoP) in the days to come.

The mahasabha saw villagers in large numbers, with a few showing up in tribal attire to make a point that they, STs of the village, have the first right to the land as well as its resources.


Opposition leader Yuri Alemao said the intent of BJP govt is to sell Goa. The ST community in 2012 supported BJP to come to office with the hope that it would be its saviour, but neither in South Goa nor in North Goa was it evident. “The attempt of Sawant and his govt is to sell Goa and its resources.”

Alleging huge “corruption and a culture of 50% commission in govt departments”, Alemao said the projects pushed are for the “benefits of Sharmas and Vermas of Delhi” at the cost of environmental degradation.

Asking people not to be sussegad, Alemao later said on his X handle, “When it comes to protecting our land, a ‘Mannkulem Goem,’ we can’t afford to be susegaad. We need to come together and let them know that we will not remain quiet.”

Congress’ Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira as well as St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar attended the mahasabha.

Manoj Parab, chief of Revolutionary Goans (RG), said if villages are destroyed, Goa will not exist. “No amount of job assurances can ensure that our lands are safe. We all need to contribute to this resistance,” he said.

Amit Palekar, AAP president, called the two projects “a scam”. “Today, the Toyaar lake is under threat. Tomorrow, another lake will face a similar fate.”

Activist Rama Kankonkar said govt wants to take undue advantage of tribal people. “It is time govt accepts accountability for its actions.”

Govind Shirodkar, chairman of the Chimbel Wetland Committee, said, “The Goa Biodiversity Board has authority to declare this area a wetland, but it declined to do it.”

“They told us they can’t interfere in this area, claiming it falls outside the buffer zone. There is no use of having such a committee if it will side with govt.” Villagers have been on hunger strike since Dec 28, and fear that the two projects will not only destroy Toyyar Lake but will result in bigger environmental degradation of the village. On Friday, the sessions court granted relief to the opponents of the project by stopping the construction of the project by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).