NT Reporter
Panaji
The protest and hunger strike against the proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh entered its 12th day on Thursday, with villagers demanding that the government revoke the licence granted to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for the projects.
The villagers said that
the projects threaten their village, Toyyar Lake and local livelihoods, and warned that they will march to the Secretariat with their families if their demand is not met.
“Hundreds of villagers are taking part in the protest to protect their village and land for future generations,” said Govind Shirodkar, chairman of the Chimbel Biodiversity Management Committee.
He said that villagers have repeatedly opposed the Unity Mall and the 17-storey Prashasan Stambh project during three separate gram sabhas, despite which the panchayat later granted licence to the GTDC “after pressure from authorities, including the Block Development Officer (BDO)”.
Shirodkar alleged that the October, November and January gram sabhas were not conducted. “Villagers want these meetings held properly, and a resolution passed to cancel the licence given to the GTDC,” he said.
“There are about 22 self-help groups in the village. If the elected representatives think they can rely on votes without addressing villagers’ concerns, they are mistaken. We will march with families and children to the Secretariat if the demands are not met,” said protestors.
They said that their fight is to save the land for future generations, adding that if the government does not listen, they would intensify the protest further.
