Team Goemkarponn
MERCES: Amid continued protests by Chimbel villagers against the proposed Unity Mall project, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the agitation site at the Merces junction late on Wednesday night and held detailed discussions with the demonstrators, assuring them that the project would be reviewed.
The Chief Minister reached the spot around 11.20 pm after villagers had been squatting on the national highway since morning. He first met a delegation of protest leaders along with MLA Viresh Borkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, and later addressed the gathered villagers.
Sawant told the protesters that the Unity Mall is a Government of India initiative under the Prime Minister’s programme, and therefore cannot be scrapped through a unilateral decision by the State government.
“The project cannot be taken up or scrapped in haste. A proper process has to be followed, including consultations with the Centre. After discussions, an appropriate decision will be taken in the interest of the people of Chimbel,” the Chief Minister assured.
In a significant concession, Sawant agreed to the villagers’ long-pending demand to expand the notified wetland area of Toyyar Lake. He said the existing wetland area of 1.79 lakh square metres will be increased to 2.63 lakh square metres, incorporating the buffer zone and zone of influence, as recommended in an earlier National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) report.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government is committed to protecting the waterbody and its surrounding ecology.
He also assured the protesters that the government will not file an appeal against the District Court’s recent order related to the project, adding that the decision aligns with the government’s current approach, though discussions with the Advocate General are still pending.
Sawant further informed that another round of talks will be held on Monday or Tuesday to take the discussions forward and urged the villagers to call off their agitation.
While sections of the crowd welcomed the assurances with applause, several protesters remained unconvinced, pointing out that there was no categorical announcement scrapping the project. After internal consultations, protest leaders decided to disperse around midnight but announced that a hunger strike near the Unity Mall project site would continue from Thursday, warning of intensified agitation if the government backtracks on its assurances.
The villagers had been protesting peacefully since 10 am on January 15, with heavy police deployment at the site. Despite the prolonged protest and highway blockade, demonstrators maintained restraint throughout the day, ensuring the agitation remained non-violent.
