Goa Government Relocates Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh Projects Following Villager Protests
In a significant victory for environmental activists and local residents, the Goa government has announced the relocation of two major development projects—the Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh—from their originally proposed site in Chimbel. This decision comes after sustained protests by villagers who were concerned about the potential impact on Toyyar Lake, a vital water body they describe as their lifeline.
Protests and Government Response
Over the past month, villagers from Chimbel have been engaged in a chain hunger strike to protect Toyyar Lake and their village ecosystem. Their persistent efforts caught the attention of state authorities, leading Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to issue directions for a thorough mapping of the wetland and its zone of influence earlier this month.
The tourism department, in an official statement on Wednesday, revealed that the government arrived at this decision after carefully considering the sentiments and emotions of the villagers. This move marks a notable shift in policy, demonstrating responsiveness to community concerns in development planning.
Comprehensive Survey Exercise
A detailed survey exercise commenced on January 23rd, involving multiple stakeholders:
- Representatives from the Chimbel village community
- Technical experts including hydrologists, architects, and scientists from the National Institute of Oceanography Goa
- Members of the wetland authority
- Officials from the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR)
- Tourism department personnel
The comprehensive assessment employed both traditional and modern techniques:
- Ground Truthing: Survey teams physically traversed the catchment area boundaries to map water sources and drainage lines
- Technical Mapping: Experts documented inlet points, high water lines, low water lines, and the earthen bund of Toyyar Lake
- Aerial Surveillance: High-definition drones captured detailed land contours for accurate assessment
Tourism officials emphasized that the exercise included every point shown by the villagers, ensuring community participation in the scientific process.
Survey Findings and Decision
The completed survey revealed crucial information about the proposed project site. According to tourism officials, the survey clearly demonstrated that the original location for both projects fell outside the zone of influence of Toyyar wetland and its mapped catchment area.
Despite this technical finding, Chief Minister Sawant confirmed on Wednesday that the government would proceed with relocation. Although the project site is in a settlement zone adjoining the National Highway, upon considering the sentiments and emotions of some of the villagers, it was decided to shift the location of both the government projects to a different site, tourism officials stated.
Ongoing Community Engagement
Even as the relocation decision was announced, Chimbel villagers demonstrated continued vigilance. Earlier on Wednesday, they deferred a scheduled meeting with the Chief Minister, requesting additional time and demanding:
- The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Unity Mall project
- Copies of the survey minutes
GTDC engineer Pramod Badami confirmed that while the report had been submitted, the joint inspection and survey report was not signed yet, indicating ongoing procedural matters.
Santa Cruz MLA Rodolfo Fernandes, whose jurisdiction includes Bondvall and Chimbel, reported placing villager demands regarding both Bondvall Lake and Toyyar Lake before Chief Minister Sawant. The Chief Minister assured that both issues would be resolved, suggesting broader attention to water body conservation in the region.
This development represents a significant case of community activism influencing government policy in Goa, balancing development goals with environmental protection and local sentiment considerations.
