Goa CM Pledges Consultation on Chimbel Unity Mall After Court Quashes Licence

Overview

• The North Goa Principal District and Sessions Court on Wednesday set aside the construction licence issued to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation for the Unity Mall in Chimbel.
• Hundreds of villagers marched toward the legislature on Thursday but were stopped at Merces Circle, staging a road sit-in under heavy police deployment and protesting reported use of mobile jammers.
• Meeting protesters late Thursday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured no final decision will be taken without consulting their leaders, said he would convene them by Tuesday, and agreed not to appeal the court order.
• Sawant also said the notified area of the Toyyar Lake wetland would be increased based on a National Institute of Oceanography suggestion, as villagers continued a relay hunger strike.
• Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte denied any personal real estate interests in the project area, asserted that permissions were in place, and opposition leaders including AAP figures publicly backed the protesters.