Chimbel pushback for govt’s proposal of tallest building

Panaji: A proposal for ‘Prashasan Stambh’, the state’s tallest administrative building, and a mall nearby at the site of an IT park near Chimbel lake was opposed strongly at a gram sabha of the village on Sunday.The members pushed back against the two projects in an eco-sensitive area of the lake that forms the lifeline for water bodies, groundwater, and the green areas in the periphery. Years ago, a health city was proposed, and this gave way later to the proposal for an IT project, which was opposed by villagers and activists from the state.Chimbel lake, a notified wetland, was the source of water to Panaji city during the Portuguese era.At the packed gram sabha, a local activist alleged that a well-known politician was trying to grab land near the lake.“We had earlier rejected the mall project unanimously in three consecutive meetings,” a villager said.The proposed 15-storey building, to rise 75m high, is estimated to cost Rs 300 crore. It was earlier proposed to be built at Patto, but later govt considered shifting the site to Porvorim.The other hurdle at Patto was the massive landfilling that was required to locate the construction area in the low-lying khazan land.The villagers have decided to hold a massive rally and a public meeting to oppose the two projects. “We will not allow the projects near the notified wetland,” a villager said.