The construction of the Pradhan Mantri Ekta Mall (Unity Mall) in Panaji has ignited a fierce legal and public battle, with local villagers vowing to challenge the project in court and stage a hunger strike in protest. This comes just a day after the state tourism department asserted that all statutory permissions for the project were in place.
Villagers Gear Up for Legal Fight and Hunger Strike
Frustrated residents of Chimbel have declared their intention to approach the court to scrap the proposed mall entirely. The court is scheduled to hear their petition on January 8. To amplify their resistance, the community has announced plans to hold a hunger strike on Sunday, directly challenging the government's push for the project.
Govind Shirodkar, the president of the Gakuved Federation, accused the government of acting in contempt of court. He claimed that a stay order on the project remains in force until January 8, a directive he says the authorities have ignored by proceeding with construction. "The government and tourism department are acting as if they obtained all approvals without meeting any objections," Shirodkar told reporters.
Allegations of Wetland Destruction and Rushed Work
Shirodkar leveled serious allegations against the project's execution. He stated that the pace of construction was illegally accelerated by deploying two additional earth movers. Furthermore, he accused the government of falsely demarcating the project area to show it falls outside a protected buffer zone. He insists the construction site is, in fact, a wetland, raising significant environmental concerns.
"Why is the government proceeding with the project even though the villagers are so opposed to it?" Shirodkar questioned, highlighting the deep rift between the authorities and the local community.
Claims of Early, Covert Work Begin
Adding to the controversy, Ajay Kholkar, a functionary of the Revolutionary Goans (RG) party, contradicted the tourism department's timeline. He alleged that while officials may claim work began only recently, people in Chimbel have witnessed activity since September. Initial work involved barricading the area months ago, long before the recent official start.
"I am confused as to how the government doesn't understand a simple court order," Kholkar said, echoing the sentiment that the administration is willfully bypassing legal and civic hurdles. The stage is now set for a crucial court hearing on January 8, which will determine the future of the contentious Unity Mall project in Panaji.
