Goa, Jan. 5 -- Women and children on Sunday gathered at a large-scale public protest at Chimbel to protect their rights and their environ-ment against the Tourism. Department's proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects, as experts cautioned that damage to Toyyar Lake could weak-en its function as a natural flood buffer, potentially in-creasing flood risks for sur-rounding areas, including Panjim.

The agitation has gath-ered momentum with op-position leaders cutting across party lines joining the protestors in a show of solidarity.

It is pertinent to note that several locals have been on a chain hunger strike for the past seven days, demanding that the project be scrapped from its present location. During the meeting, protes-tors...