A massive show of dissent unfolded at Old Goa on Friday as villagers from Chimbel, alongside NGOs, social activists and political leaders, rallied at a public meeting — rechristened the ‘Maha Melava’ — to protest the proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects. The protesters vowed to continue their agitation un til they receive official, legal and administrative confir mation that both projects have been shifted from their proposed locations at Kadamba Plateau, Chim bel. They also demanded the re-notification of Toy yar Lake as a wetland, in corporating suggestions and objections raised by locals and called for the restoration of the Unity Mall construction site to its original state. Strong objections were raised against a letter is sued by Tourism Director Kedar Naik regarding the relocation of the projects. Activists highlighted that the Unity Mall falls under the Tourism Department and the Goa Tourism De velopment Corporation (GTDC), while the Pra shasan Stambh is under the General Administration Department (GAD), requir ing separate decisions and notifications. Local activist and pro test leader Ajay Kholkar questioned the Tourism Director’s authority over the Prashasan Stambh project, stating, “Why and how has this administra tive lapse occurred? We want to send a clear mes sage that we should not be harassed. The Goa Wetland Authority falls under the Ministry of Environment, which is headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. This raises serious ques tions about how the Tour ism Department is taking decisions on matters re lated to the Environment Department.” Kholkar reiterated that the villagers reject the letter from the Tourism Department and demanded that separate let ters be issued by the respective departments, clearly stat ing that both projects are being shifted from Chimbel. “The protest will continue until such written assurances are re ceived,” he said, also calling for restoration of the damaged area and its proper notification as a wetland. Extending support to the protest, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao criticised the government bluntly, stating, “The government is shameless. I do not know why this government is fooling people.” Wetland Committee Chair man Govind Shirodkar also questioned the authority of the Tourism Director. “Has Kedar Naik been given a power of attorney?” he asked. Eminent Goan theatre personality and social activist Devidas Amonkar condemned the nature of development being pursued in the State, asking, “Development for whom? Gram Sabha resolutions are passed but then over ruled. No action has been taken against the Block Develop ment Officer who issued orders contrary to the resolutions. The Chief Minister claims that Rs 25 crore has been spent, but it has not been specified where the money was spent.” The protest, originally scheduled at Azad Maidan, Pan jim, was shifted to Old Goa following the imposition of Sec tion 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) on January 30, 2026, which prohibited public gatherings across Panjim. The meeting began at Gandhi Circle, Old Goa, with the slogan ‘Aamche Toye, Amka Zai’. Several political leaders, including Goa Congress Pres ident Amit Patkar and AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik, lent their support to the protest, reinforcing the growing political and civil pushback against the twin government projects.
Massive support for Chimbel villagers at Old Goa meet
