Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government has assured the High Court that construction at Unity Mall will proceed only after obtaining all required approvals.
The court permitted an amendment to the petition and issued notices to the respondents, including the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). The next hearing is scheduled for 11 November.
Chimbel residents, along with social activists, held a protest on Sunday opposing the proposed Unity Mall in Chimbel and the 17-storey Prashasan Stambh at Kadamba Plateau.
Locals raised concerns that the projects, located close to the eco-sensitive Toyyar Lake, a notified wetland, could threaten biodiversity, deplete groundwater, and impact local livelihoods.
Protesters called for the creation of a biodiversity park around the lake and criticized authorities for not consulting the community before granting project approvals.
The Chimbel panchayat has already passed a resolution opposing the developments, with demonstrators urging the government to scrap both projects.
Meanwhile, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has cleared the projects with conditions, including the use of treated water from the Tonca Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for construction and the preparation of a comprehensive traffic circulation plan to prevent congestion.
