Goa Chief Minister Meets Chimbel Protesters Late at Night
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a late-night meeting with Chimbel residents on Thursday. The demonstrators had been blocking the Merces junction for hours. Sawant assured them the government would protect Toyyar Lake and its surrounding land.
Protection Promise for Toyyar Lake Area
Sawant made a clear commitment to the protesters. He said the area around Toyyar Lake would receive official notification as a wetland zone. This action follows recommendations from the National Institute of Oceanography.
"Taking into consideration the protest that has been going on for days, I assure you that the lake and the land around it will be notified as wetland zone as per NIO recommendations," Sawant told the crowd. "And it will be notified so that the lake and land around the lake remains protected."
The chief minister emphasized his personal support for protecting the lake. "Even I am of the opinion that the lake has to be protected. At the end of the day, we are not against people," he stated.
Unity Mall Project Remains in Place
Despite the assurances, Sawant refused to shift the Unity Mall project to another location. He described it as a central government project that requires careful consideration.
"The Unity Mall is a central govt project and we cannot take a decision in haste," Sawant explained. He invited protest leaders for another round of discussions early next week.
The chief minister also addressed legal aspects. He promised to consult residents before appealing a North Goa district court order. Sawant said he would meet with the state's legal advisors, including Advocate General Devidas Pangam, to discuss next steps.
Day-Long Protest Disrupts Traffic
Chimbel residents began their protest at 10 am on Thursday. They blocked the Merces junction, disrupting traffic to Kadamba Plateau, Old Goa, and Ponda. The demonstration continued throughout the day.
Protesters included villagers, elderly women, and members of the tribal community. They squatted on the Old Goa Kadamba bypass, bringing traffic to a standstill. As evening approached, they escalated their agitation by blocking the road from Merces to Old Goa.
The disruption caused severe traffic jams during peak hours. Women voluntarily climbed into police buses while men sat on streets, singing songs and incantations to local deities.
Heavy Police Presence at Protest Site
Authorities deployed substantial police forces to control the demonstration. Police personnel arrived with lathis, riot gear, tear gas guns, and a signal jammer. At least four buses of police personnel stationed at Merces, with additional forces around the assembly complex.
North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav met with protesters, attempting to convince them to return home. However, the demonstrators remained steadfast in their position.
Protesters had initially planned to march to the assembly building. When police prevented this movement, they prepared to spend the night at Merces junction.
Political Support for Protesters
Opposition MLAs joined the protest throughout the day. Yuri Alemao, Venzy Viegas, Altone D'Costa, and Viresh Borkar stood with the demonstrators. Activists from across Goa also participated in the protest.
Several AAP and RGP functionaries showed solidarity with the protesters. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal criticized the BJP government in a social media post.
"It is unfortunate that Goa's BJP govt is ignoring its own people's demands for the past 18 days," Kejriwal wrote. "Is a 'Unity Mall' more important than the wishes of the villagers?"
Community Concerns About Biodiversity
Villagers expressed deep concerns about the Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects. They believe these developments threaten a sensitive biodiversity area near Toyyar Lake.
For generations, community members have foraged for herbs, fruits, and vegetables in this area. They worry the projects will destroy natural vegetation and medicinal plants.
"As children, we used to climb and roam these hills," said a tribal protester. "If this mall comes up, they will destroy the natural vegetation, the herbs that give us medicine. We will have to pay to visit the mall, the same place that we used to walk freely."
Protest Activities and Community Response
During the day-long protest, participants engaged in various activities:
- Singing traditional songs and dancing
- Conducting a mock funeral for the Chimbel sarpanch
- Blocking major roads to draw attention to their cause
- Engaging with political leaders and media representatives
Chimbel Wetland Committee Chairman Govind Shirodkar supported the protection measures. He emphasized that around 3 lakh square meters of land around the lake should be declared a zone of influence as per NIO recommendations.
The protest highlights growing tensions between development projects and environmental protection in Goa. Residents continue to demand greater consideration for local ecosystems and traditional land use practices.
