Chimbel village remains on high alert as residents await a formal government notification on the relocation of the proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects, with the much-anticipated “Maha-Aandolan” protest still scheduled for Friday, January 30.
The state government’s last-minute verbal assurance to shift the controversial projects has failed to calm protesting villagers, who say trust in unofficial promises has long eroded. Although the Tourism Department indicated late on Wednesday that the projects would be relocated, the absence of a written order has kept the village on a war footing.
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The development follows a joint site inspection that concluded on January 28, involving hydrologists and scientists from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). While the government reportedly softened its stance citing the “sentiments and emotions” of local residents, protestors insist that verbal assurances are insufficient.
Members of the Chimbel Wetland Committee said the inspection report remains unsigned by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). “We have heard verbal assurances before. Until there is a gazette notification and a revised Detailed Project Report clearly showing the projects shifted completely out of our catchment area, the agitation will continue,” a committee member said.
With no official document in hand, villagers have confirmed that the ‘Maha-Aandolan’—described as a “Karo Ya Maro” (Do or Die) protest—will go ahead as planned. Protesters are demanding either a complete scrapping of the projects or an immediate official notification confirming their relocation.
The Unity Mall project remains a major point of contention. While the government maintains that the proposed site falls outside the zone of influence of Toyyar Lake, villagers argue that their own mapping and ground realities indicate otherwise. Activists have also pointed to earlier remarks by the Chief Minister stating that ₹25 crore has already been committed to the project, saying this should not prevent relocation before further public funds are spent on what they describe as an ecologically sensitive area.
As Thursday draws to a close, all eyes are on the Secretariat. If a formal notification is not issued by nightfall, major roads leading to Panjim are expected to witness one of the largest citizen-led protests in Goa this year.
