Panaji: Residents of Chimbel on Thursday accused govt of ignoring environmental sensitivities in a proposed project on govt land, claiming that construction over more than 25,000sqm would destroy wetlands in the area.The villagers said that while chief minister Pramod Sawant told them only 20,000sqm was required, a reply received under the RTI Act revealed plans for a nine-floor structure, contradicting official claims of a four-floor building. Questioning the project’s impact on local communities, the villagers asked if this was the “reward” being given to Adivasis and the Bhandari community.“If govt acquires 25,000sqm for the Unity Mall and an additional 25,000sqm for the Prashasan Stambh, it is devouring 50,000sqm of wetland area. During the monsoon, the reclaimed wetlands will suffer and the lake’s aquifers will be disrupted. This land doesn’t belong to anyone’s father; it is the land of the tribals and the poor,” said one of the villagers.This statement came a day after Sawant met with the villagers. They further questioned how the steel structure for the building alone was worth Rs 25 crore.“The CM is answerable for the scams and the environmental destruction meted out under the guise of this project,” said the protesters.GFP president Vijai Sardesai questioned the over Rs 20 crore expenditure on the project, adding that there was no visible sign of the amount spent at the site. “Until 15 days ago, the CM was defending the Prashasan Stambh, and now he changed his mind. For all you know, he may change his mind about the Unity Mall as well,” Sardesai said.The protesting residents said the project will have a direct impact on the notified wetland, Toyyar Lake or Chimbel Lake, a critical ecological catchment and historic water source essential for groundwater recharge, biodiversity, and the livelihood of locals, particularly indigenous and tribal communities.
