Chimbel, Goa – The 2021 wetland notification for Toyyar Lake has reignited local resistance against the proposed ₹100-crore Unity Mall project by the Goa Tourism Department. Villagers argue that the project, planned within the officially protected zone, violates environmental safeguards and threatens the wetland’s hydrology, biodiversity, and traditional livelihoods.
Toyyar Lake, notified as a wetland under the Goa State Wetland Authority, has become the epicentre of a growing grassroots movement. Residents say the government’s own notification bars construction in the “Zone of Influence” of the lake, yet large-scale land filling and tree felling have already begun. According to a study commissioned by local environmental groups, the official wetland boundary was incorrectly drawn and needs a GIS-based review to protect the full catchment area.
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The Chimbel Village Panchayat has passed multiple resolutions opposing both the Unity Mall and a proposed 17-storey “Prashasan Stambh” project nearby. The panchayat has also ordered a halt to construction under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act for lack of permits. Environmentalists and residents recommend declaring the area a biodiversity park instead.
Activists like Govind Shirodkar and Assuncao Rosario, backed by the Goa Biodiversity Board, are urging Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to honour the official wetland notification and preserve Toyyar Lake’s ecological and cultural significance. For the villagers, the message is clear, “No Toyyar, no water, no Chimbel.”
