PANAJI: The Principal District and Sessions Court, North Goa, has quashed the construction licence granted to GTDC for the Unity Mall project in Chimbel. The court also set aside orders issued by the Deputy Director of Panchayats and the BDO that had approved the project.
Advocate Melicia Simoes, representing the protestors, welcomed the ruling, saying, “We are extremely grateful to the Honorable Principal District Judge of North Goa. The court has quashed the construction licence issued by the Secretary of the Village Panchayat of Chimbel, as well as the orders of the BDO and Deputy Director of Panchayats. No activity can continue at the Unity Mall site as of today.”
Earlier today, Chimbel protestors had agreed to meet CM Pramod Sawant, but had threatened a morcha if the Chief Minister did not scrap the Unity Mall project.
Chairman of the Chimbel Biodiversity Management Committee, Govind Shirodkar, described the verdict as a relief but expressed caution. “We will inform the protestors that the court has cancelled the licence. However, the struggle will continue,” he said, adding that an appeal from the State to the High Court is expected as part of the legal process.
