NT Reporter
Panaji
Villagers of Chimbel on Saturday accused the state government of misleading the people of Goa over the proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects, despite official announcements that both projects have been shifted out
of the village.
Addressing the media on the 42nd day of an ongoing chain hunger strike at the project site, tribal leader and chairman of the Chimbel Biodiversity Management Committee, Govind Shirodkar, expressed strong resentment over what he termed as an attempt to “make a mockery” of the villagers by allegedly manipulating the zone of influence of Toyyar lake by classifying its catchment area under ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories.
“We believe a conspiracy is being created by the government on this issue. The former chief engineer of the Water Resources Department, Pramod Badami, who is now engaged with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation after retirement, is attempting to dilute facts related to the wetland area of Chimbel village,” Shirodkar alleged.
He further claimed that a meeting held on Saturday to discuss a draft survey report and incorporate villagers’ suggestions took an unexpected turn. “Though it was meant to consider the views of the villagers, the hydrologist from the National Institute of Oceanography and other experts were present, and Badami was controlling the entire process,” he said.
Tribal leader and local resident Ajay Kholkar said the villagers would announce their future course of action on February 8, as the seven-day deadline given for a meeting with the Chief Minister is coming
to an end.
“We will meet the Governor and the Chief Secretary to submit a memorandum and explain how the Director of Tourism Kedar Naik and Joint Secretary (Finance) Pranab Bhat are failing to perform their duties,” Kholkar said.
The villagers warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government continues with what they described as delay tactics and fails to resolve the issue at the earliest.
