Protestors decide to disperse, continue protest outside Unity Mall site from tomorrow
Digital Goa, Jan 15- Unity Mall project cannot be scrapped hastily as it is a Government of India project. Process to discuss and inform the Center needs will be initiated, CM Pramod Sawant informed the protesting Chimbel villagers at Merces junction. CM met the villagers protesting around 11.20 pm. He held discussion with a group of leaders along with MLA Viresh Borkar and LoP Yuri Alemao first and then spoke to the villagers. CM added that another meeting will be held on Monday or Tuesday to further the discussion about the project. He urged them to call off their strike. Leaders of protesting villagers decided to disperse after consulting the villagers. They also decided to continue with their hunger strike near their protest site near Unity Mall project site from tomorrow.
CM also assured the villagers that the notified Wetland area of the Toyyar lake which is presently 1.79 lakh sq mtr will be increased to 2.63 lakh sq mtr( including the buffer zone and the zone of influence) as suggested by the earlier NIO report. Govt has clear vision that the waterbody should be preserved, he added. He also agreed to the villagers demand that the government will not to go in appeal against yesterdays District court order.
The villagers who have been protesting since 10 am on Jan 15 continued to remain at the protest site till late into the night, prompting the CM to decide to personally engage with them. Heavy police force was deployed at the protest site. All through the day hundreds of protestors exhibited commendable restraint and ensured that the protest was peaceful.
