**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1728 in Lok Sabha, addressed on February 10, 2026, regarding the construction of the PM Shri Ekta Mall in Goa. The question inquired about potential issues such as opposition to the mall, biodiversity concerns, and impact on water bodies. The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, clarifies the project's objectives and addresses the concerns raised.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Opposition to the Mall:**
* The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has not received any communication indicating opposition to the Pradhan Mantri Ekta Mall in Goa.
* **Project Objectives:**
* The PM Ekta Mall aims to strengthen the 'Make in India' initiative and promote the 'One District One Product' (ODOP) program.
* It seeks to foster national integration and boost the local economy by providing a platform for artisans and rural manufacturers.
* It is being set up as per the ‘Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24 (SASCI)'.
* **Location and Approvals:**
* The mall can be set up preferably in the State-capital, financial-capital, or a prominent tourism Centre of the State.
* The land for the mall is provided by the State Government free of cost or the cost of acquisition of the land is borne by the State Government.
* The project is being undertaken by the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, on land owned by the Department of Tourism, and is not located on tribal land.
* It has obtained all required permissions from authorities including technical, environmental, forest, and pollution control departments.
* **Environmental Concerns:**
* The project is not in a hotspot of biodiversity.
* The nearest notified wetland is 445 meters away in a different catchment area.
* The project will not affect any fresh water lake or aquifers.
* Scrapping of the prior IT project was not due to land belonging to tribals or concerns about biodiversity damage.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Goa**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing land and ensuring required permissions.
* **Action Required:** Ensure continued compliance with all regulations and guidelines for the project.
**Artisans and Rural Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of a platform to showcase and sell their products.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the platform to promote and sell their unique products.
**Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)**
* **Impact:** Overseeing the project in line with the 'Make in India' initiative.
* **Action Required:** Ensure alignment with objectives and address any future concerns raised about the project.
Key Entities Referenced
PM Shri Ekta Mall: A mall intended to promote 'Make in India' and 'One District One Product' (ODOP) initiatives, designed to foster national integration and boost the local economy.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The ministry responsible for answering questions related to the construction of the PM Shri Ekta Mall in Goa.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The department within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that addresses communications regarding the PM Shri Ekta Mall project.
Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24 (SASCI): Scheme issued by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance allowing for the set up of one Ekta Mall per State to be set up preferably in the State-capital.
Goa: The specific location where the construction of the PM Shri Ekta Mall is being questioned.
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 10TH 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 inthe 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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