Residents of Chimbel village in Goa have resolved to escalate their ongoing agitation, demanding the complete cancellation of two major development projects—the Unity Mall and a 17-storey Prashaasan Stambh (Administrative Tower). The decision was taken during a well-attended mahasabha (public meeting) on Sunday, where villagers received backing from political leaders, activists, and the wider public.
Hunger Strike and Escalated Plans
The villagers, who have been on a hunger strike since December 28, declared their intention to continue and intensify their protest. They warned of moving their demonstrations to the offices of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department and the Directorate of Panchayats (DoP) in the coming days. The community fears that the twin projects will lead to the destruction of the Toyyar Lake and cause significant environmental degradation in their village.
Political and Community Support Solidifies
The mahasabha saw a large gathering, with some attendees donning tribal attire to underscore that the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of the village hold the first right to the land and its resources. The protest gained substantial political momentum with the presence of several opposition figures.
Opposition leader Yuri Alemao accused the BJP government of intending to "sell Goa." He recalled that the ST community supported the BJP in 2012 hoping for protection, but felt betrayed. Alemao alleged massive "corruption and a culture of 50% commission in government departments," claiming the projects benefit "the Sharmas and Vermas of Delhi" at the cost of Goa's environment. He urged people on social media not to be "sussegad" (laid-back) when it comes to protecting their land.
Congress MLAs Carlos Ferreira (Aldona) and Viresh Borkar (St Andre) also attended the meeting. Manoj Parab, chief of Revolutionary Goans (RG), emphasized that the safety of Goa depends on the safety of its villages, stating that no job assurances can secure their lands. Amit Palekar, AAP president, labeled the two projects "a scam," warning that Toyyar Lake is today's target, but others could follow.
Legal and Institutional Roadblocks
Activist Rama Kankonkar accused the government of taking undue advantage of tribal people and called for accountability. Govind Shirodkar, chairman of the Chimbel Wetland Committee, revealed a significant institutional hurdle. He stated that the Goa Biodiversity Board has the authority to declare the area a wetland but declined to do so, citing that it falls outside the buffer zone. Shirodkar lamented the committee's ineffectiveness if it sides with the government.
In a recent legal development, the sessions court on Friday granted relief to the project opponents by ordering the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to stop construction. Despite this interim win, the villagers of Chimbel remain steadfast, preparing for a prolonged struggle to protect their land and environment from what they see as destructive and corrupt development.
