Lok Sabha Question No. 1728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Construction of PM Shri Ekta Mall in Goa
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1728.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026.

## CONSTRUCTION OF PM SHRI EKTA MALL IN GOA

## 1728.  SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the opposition against the Pradhan Mantri Ekta Mall on the Kadamba plateau in Chimbel, Goa;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  area  where  the  mall  is  being forcefully  pushed  for  construction  is  a  hotspot  of  biodiversity  and  the  sitting Biodiversity Management Committee of the Village Panchayat has staunchly opposed it;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of damage to the fresh water lake in the immediate vicinity and also the aquifers in the property earmarked for the mall;
- (d) whether the Government is likely to seek report from the State Government regarding the mall being forcefully built in tribal area; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  previously  an  IT  project  was  also scrapped due to the land belonging to tribals and the project would damage biodiversity?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a) to (e): Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT)  has  not received any communication on opposition to the Pradhan Mantri Ekta Mall in Goa.

The  PM  Ekta  Mall  aims  to  strengthen  the  'Make  in  India'  initiative  while promoting the 'One District One Product' (ODOP). This initiative is designed to foster national integration and boost the local economy by providing artisans and  rural  manufacturers  with  a  platform  to  showcase  and  sell  their  unique products.  As  per  the  'Scheme  for  Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital Investment 2023-24 (SASCI)' issued by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, one Ekta Mall per State to be setup preferably in the State-capital. The guidelines also have a provision for considering setting up of the Unity Mall in the financial-capital or a prominent tourism Centre of the State. The land for the mall  is  made  available  by  the  State  Government  free  of  cost  or  the  cost  of acquisition of the land is borne by the State Government.

As per the information provided by the Government of Goa, the said project of Unity Mall is being taken up by the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa in the land owned by the Department of Tourism and it is not a tribal land. It has all required permissions from the authorities such as Technical Clearance from Town  and  Country  Planning  Department,  Environmental  Clearance  Order, Forest  Permission  for  Tree  cutting,  Goa  State  Pollution  Control  Board (GSPCB), Health etc. The said project is not in the hotspot of biodiversity area. The nearest notified wetland is 445 mts. away from the said location and in a different catchment area. The said project will not affect any fresh water lake or for that matter aquifers in the catchment and  no water bodies will be affected. Further, scrapping of the IT project is not due to the land belonging to tribals or concerns about biodiversity damage.

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