Fernandes says he will do everything possible to protect Toyyar Lake
The protesting villagers demanded MLA Rudolf Fernandes’s unequivocal support for scrapping the project.
PANAJI
Chimbel villagers escalated their agitation against the proposed Unity Mall project on Sunday as hundreds of villagers marched to the residence of St Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes, staging a dharna and demanding his unequivocal support for scrapping the project.
The demonstrators, who broke through a police cordon to press their demands, accused the government of pushing the project without transparency and warned of severe ecological and social consequences.
Their main grouse is that the mall would disturb the fragile ecosystem surrounding Toyyar Lake, while placing additional stress on local resources such as water and electricity.
Villagers have already approached the courts challenging the permissions granted to the project and have vowed to continue their agitation until it is withdrawn.
Earlier, they announced plans for a mega protest march to the Goa Legislative Assembly on January 15 to highlight their opposition.
The MLA’s remarks came amid mounting pressure from villagers who have staged protests near the project site for the past two weeks. Protest leaders insisted that the government’s assurances were inadequate, pointing to what they described as systemic failures in governance and planning.
Residents reiterated that the Unity Mall project symbolised misplaced priorities.
“This project will only benefit a few, while the community bears the cost in terms of environmental damage and resource depletion,” one protester said.
The confrontation at Fernandes’ residence underscored the growing mistrust between villagers and the government.
The MLA attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, but the protesters demanded a categorical stand against the project rather than conditional assurances.
After today’s stir and developments, Fernandes sought to clarify his position, assuring constituents that he would do everything possible to safeguard Toyyar Lake.
He said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had also given assurances that the lake would be protected. “I am committed to ensuring the protection of Toyyar Lake,” Fernandes stated, adding that he had offered to meet a delegation of five protesters for discussions, though the offer was not accepted.
With tensions running high, the upcoming Assembly session is expected to witness further pressure on the government.
The Unity Mall controversy has quickly become a flashpoint in local politics, pitting development ambitions against environmental and community concerns.
As the protests intensify, the government faces the challenge of balancing its push for infrastructure projects with the need to maintain public trust and protect Goa’s fragile ecological heritage.
