PANAJI
The joint inspection of the land at the site of the Unity Mall project at Chimbel was halted on Friday after villagers raised objections. The exercise will now resume on Saturday with an expanded scope.
Officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD), Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and other agencies had begun inspecting Survey No. 40/1, focusing on Toyyar Lake’s drainage lines and zone of influence.
Villagers intervened, insisting that the survey cover the entire 4.5 lakh sq mts of government-owned land, from Toyyar Lake to the mall site.
Advocate Malisa Simoes, representing the villagers, said the partial inspection contradicted assurances given earlier by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Residents demanded a fresh survey and re-notification of the wetland, including its buffer zone and drainage area. They alleged the current notification was flawed.
After heated exchanges, both sides agreed to postpone the exercise. A joint physical and technical survey using drones and Google imagery will now be conducted.
The process, expected to take three to four days, will be monitored by architect Hycinth Pinto and hydrologist Smitesh, along with five village representatives. Senior officials from the Directorate of Land Records, Goa State Biodiversity Board, National Institute of Oceanography, WRD and GTDC will conduct the survey.
WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badami said the inspection was being carried out under directions from the chief minister. He maintained the focus was on Toyyar Lake’s zone of influence.
The idea of the joint survey to settle the issue of environmental impact of the project on Toyyar lake and its buffer area had emerged from the meeting the protesters had with Sawant earlier this week.
At the meeting, the chief minister reiterated that official assessments show the mall site lies outside the wetland’s zone of influence but agreed to the villagers' demand for a joint inspection.
He also suggested independent surveyors from both sides jointly verify the claims and assured that the government was open to formally earmarking land identified by residents as wetlands, calling it a step in Chimbel’s long-term interest.
At the site, meanwhile, villagers continued their chain hunger strike protest which has now completed 26 days.
