log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2026 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 215 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 cbc 35101/13/0082/2526 Stalemate over Unity Mall deepens CM MEETS VILLAGERS, RULES OUT SCRAPPING PROJECT; READY TO DROP PRASHASAN STAMBH AS PROTESTERS VOW TO INTENSIFY AGITATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The stalemate over the controversial Unity Mall project in Chimbel deepened on Wednesday after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met a delegation of protesting villagers but ruled out scrapping the project. The meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s official bungalow in Altinho as promised earlier, ended without resolution, prompting villagers to declare their intention to intensify their agitation. The Unity Mall, an ambitious Central government initiative, has already seen an expenditure of around Rs 25 crore, Sawant told the delegation while promising them that the government may consider withdrawing the proposed Prashasan Stambh (Administration Pillar) in view of local opposition. It is not possible to cancel the Unity Mall itself given the investment already made, he Sawant’s meet with Khaunte, Fernandes raises eyebrows A delegation from Chimbel outside Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s residence after their meeting on Wednesday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar reportedly told the delegation. Govind Shirodkar, Chairman of the Chimbel Biodiversity Board Committee and a leading face of the agitation was part of the delegation which met the Chief Minister. He told the media after the meeting that they are disappointed. “There will be no compro- mise on our demand to scrap the Unity Mall. We are ready to intensify the agitation until this demand is met,” he said. Shirodkar added that the villagers were dissatisfied with the outcome of the talks and would soon convene a gram sabha to decide the future course of action. At the heart of the contro- PANAJI: Following the meeting with the protesters, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, confabulated with cabinet colleague Rohan Khaunte and St Cruz MLA, Rudolf Fernandes late on Wednesday evening. Details of what transpired at the Sawant-Khaunte-Fernandes meeting were not available but CMO sources sought to claim that it was not related to the Unity Mall issue. Khaunte as Tourism Minister is the chief protagonist of the Unity Mall project which is being constructed through the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) under his charge. Fernandes represents St Cruz of which Chimbel is a part and once sided with the villagers opposing the project before he switched to ruling BJP. versy lies Toyyar Lake, a wetland that villagers insist falls within the zone of influence of the Unity Mall site. The government has maintained that the project is outside the lake’s ecological impact area. However, the delegation presented technical evidence challenging this claim, pointing to discrepancies in the no- tification declaring the land as a wetland. In response, Sawant assured the villagers that their concerns would be re-verified. The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and the Water Resources Department (WRD) have now been tasked >Continued on P9 New BJP chief Nabin to visit Goa next week THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Newly appointed BJP National President Nitin Nabin will be on his maiden visit to Goa on January 30-31, during which he will interact with party ministers, MLAs, senior leaders and workers. BJP Goa president Damodar Naik on Wednesday told reporters about the upcoming visit. He further said Nabin chaired a meeting of BJP state presidents from across the country on the same day. Nabin assumed charge as the BJP National President on Tuesday, succeeding J P Nadda. The five-time Bihar MLA was elected unopposed. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was in Delhi, met Nabin to congratulate him, stating that his leadership would strengthen the party and advance the vision of a stronger, self-reliant India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Second phase of 3D land survey begins in Panaji PANAJI: After Margao and Cuncolim, the State government on Wednesday initiated the second phase of the 3D-based land survey using drones and electronic devices across Panaji city and its surrounding areas. Part of Panaji was covered in the first phase that commenced on January 1. According to a notice issued by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR), the survey will cover Altinho, Neugi Nagar, St Inez, Miramar, Campal, Caranzalem, Mala and our Lady of Immaculate area. The survey will be conducted for a period of ten days.  >> pg 3