Goa Unity Mall Survey Postponed Amid Villager Protests Over Buffer Zone Concerns
A scheduled survey to determine whether the proposed Unity Mall falls within the designated zone of influence could not proceed as planned on Friday, following strong opposition from Chimbel villagers who are demanding a comprehensive assessment of the entire buffer area rather than just the specific project site.
Government Departments Face Confusion and Objections
Amid mounting objections and apparent confusion among government departments, authorities decided to reschedule the survey for Saturday. Advocate Malisa Simoes, representing project opponents, revealed that while they received communication from the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) about demarcating only the project portion of land, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had previously promised a fresh survey encompassing both the lake and wetland areas.
"There is some sort of confusion among government departments," Simoes stated, highlighting the discrepancy between different official communications regarding the survey scope.
Official Team Returns Without Completing Survey
A joint team comprising officials from the water resources department, tourism department, and Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) had to return without conducting the survey after encountering the villagers' objections. Pradip Sarmukadam, Member Secretary of GSWA, confirmed that "in accordance with the request of the villagers, we will conduct a survey on Saturday morning."
The situation was further complicated by the absence of a surveyor representing the villagers' interests when the government team arrived at the project site. This contradicted the chief minister's earlier assurance that the survey would be conducted in the presence of surveyors from both sides.
Villagers Demand Comprehensive Buffer Zone Assessment
Following the failed survey attempt, Chimbel villagers formally wrote to concerned authorities insisting on a complete survey of the entire 4.5 lakh square meter buffer zone, rather than just the 20,000 square meter area designated for the Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh project.
Govind Shirodkar, Chairperson of the Chimbel Wetland Committee, explained their position: "The notification that was issued showed the wetlands of Chimbel incorrectly. That is the reason why we told the authorities that the entire area should be surveyed, even if it takes two to three months for the exercise to be completed."
Historical Context and Future Concerns
Shirodkar further elaborated on the villagers' apprehensions, noting that inadequate wetland demarcation has previously enabled project proposals in the area, including an IT project in 2018 and now the Unity Mall. "If the wetlands are not demarcated clearly even now, government will try to bring some other projects in future," he warned, emphasizing the need for proper environmental assessment and protection.
The villagers have initiated a chain hunger strike that will continue until the government agrees to their demand to cancel both the Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects. This protest action underscores the depth of local opposition to development initiatives perceived as threatening the area's ecological balance.
The rescheduled survey on Saturday morning represents a critical juncture in this ongoing dispute between development priorities and environmental conservation concerns in Goa's capital region.
