In a decisive move, the Chimbel Village Panchayat has unanimously refused to grant a con struction licence for the proposed Unity Mall, siding with local resi dents and community leaders who have long opposed the development. The decision was taken during the Panchayat’s fortnightly meeting, re affirming earlier resolutions passed in multiple gram sabhas. Sarpanch Sandesh Shirodkar said, “We have taken a collective decision to oppose the Unity Mall project in Chimbel. We are with the people, and if they do not want the mall, neither do we. This has been our stand from the beginning.” Govind Shirodkar, Chairman of the Chimbel Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), reiterated the community’s concerns, citing envi ronmental and civic implications. “The foundation stone for the mall was laid on October 4, and the appli cation for a construction licence sub mitted on October 7. Yet, in at least three gram sabhas, it was clearly re solved that the community does not want Unity Mall. We had similarly ex pressed opposition to the proposed Prashasan Stambh project,” he noted. The BMC has consistently highlighted the ecological sensitivity of Chimbel, warning that a commercial complex like the Unity Mall could dis rupt the local ecosystem and threaten the village’s socio-cultural fabric. Meanwhile, the Goa government has assured the High Court that construction will not commence until all stat utory permissions and clearances are in place, responding to concerns raised in ongoing litigation related to the pro ject. The Panchayat’s unanimous stand underscores growing local resistance to large-scale commercial developments in ecologically and culturally sensitive areas, signalling a significant pushback against unchecked urbanization in Chimbel.
Chimbel Panchayat Unanimously Rejects Construction Licence for Proposed Unity Mall
