Panaji: Chimbel residents have issued a seven-day ultimatum to authorities to remove the fencing around the scrapped Unity Mall and Prashashan Stambh project site. They warned of a fresh agitation if the land is not restored before the deadline. They alleged that illegal excavation has destroyed wetlands and accused the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) of flouting its written commitment.This is the second time in many months that the villagers of Chimbel, particularly women, have given state govt a deadline to restore the land excavated and closed off for the two projects.This time, the villagers have threatened to potentially disrupt the inauguration of BJP Bhavan in Aug, which Union minister Amit Shah is expected to attend.Chairperson of local biodiversity management committee Govind Shirodkar led a delegation to meet the North Goa collector to convey their demands. The delegation, which included a large number of local women, succeeded in meeting the deputy collector Praveen Parab, who agreed to convey their demands to govt.“We have toiled on that hill. Govt is not speaking about restoring the hill. Give us justice. That is why we have come here,” said an elderly woman.“The collector and the chief minister told us that the Prashashan Stambh and Unity Mall will both be scrapped. The GTDC said that it would remove the fencing at the earliest. It is a catchment area for Toyyar Lake. The assurance was given five months ago,” said Ajay Kholkar, treasurer of Revolutionary Goans, who was part of the delegation.Reminding govt of the 44-day long chain hunger strike in Jan and Feb, the locals said that they are ready to restart their stir.“Amit Shah is expected to come to inaugurate the new Goa BJP state office (BJP Bhavan). We will start our second battle and it will be even more aggressive,” said KholkarThe villagers want the panchayat or the collector to use the Rs 1.5 crore construction licence fee paid by the GTDC to remove the fencing.
