PANAJI
Nearly ten days after the Principal District and Sessions Court, North Goa, quashed the construction licence granted to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for the proposed Unity Mall at Chimbel, the State government is yet to take a call on its next course of action.
The court order, which dealt a setback to the government that has been keen to push the project despite Opposition criticism and litigation, set aside the construction licence on technical grounds. The court also quashed the orders issued by the Deputy Director of Panchayats and the Tiswadi Block Development Officer (BDO), which had cleared the project.
Government sources confirmed to The Goan that they have not yet decided whether to challenge the court order or to seek fresh approval. “There is no time frame to appeal the order. We are yet to take any decision,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made a fresh appeal to protesters opposing the Unity Mall on Wednesday to withdraw their agitation.
The CM has maintained that the Unity Mall is a Central government initiative and cannot be scrapped, pointing out that it involves a steel structure and that significant expenditure has already been incurred. However, he assured that a joint survey would be conducted to determine the project’s zone of influence. “If it is found that the project falls within the zone of influence, the government will withdraw it,” he said.
