PANAJI: In a significant win for the residents of Chimbel, who have been protesting for two weeks against government projects, the district sessions court ruled on Wednesday to annul the construction license granted to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).
The principal district judge overturned the decisions made by both the block development officer and the deputy director of panchayats, as well as the construction license issued by the Chimbel panchayat secretary.
“As of now, no activities can continue at the Unity Mall site,” stated advocate Malisa Simoes, representing Govind Shirodkar, the chairperson of the local biodiversity management committee.
The panchayat had decided to refuse any further construction licenses for the project. However, the GTDC contested this decision with the block development officer in Tiswadi, who instructed the panchayat to issue a construction license within 24 hours.
The panchayat subsequently appealed this order to the deputy director of panchayats, who upheld the BDO’s decision. Shirodkar then pursued a revision under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
During the latest hearing on December 6, the court granted temporary relief to Shirodkar, halting the orders from the deputy director and the BDO. The court noted ongoing construction and Shirodkar’s serious challenges to the legitimacy of the licenses granted to the GTDC, leading to the decision to temporarily stop further construction.
Residents have protested the project, emphasizing its potential detrimental effects on the nearby Toyyar Lake, also known as Chimbel Lake—an important ecological site and historical water source vital for groundwater recharge, local biodiversity, and the livelihoods of indigenous and tribal communities.
