PANJIM: The G20 Summit has commenced in the State, but the government’s directions to stop digging works in Panjim from March 31 have fallen flat, as the road digging works continue in the State’s capital city of Panjim.
It is pertinent to note that on January 27, in view of the G20 Summit meetings, the government had given directions to stop digging works in Panjim from March 15, with an assurance that all roads would be tarred.
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Subsequently, the deadline was extended till March 31 and as most ongoing works remained incomplete despite expediting them in view of G20 meetings. However, the government now says that the same would be completed before monsoon.
The road opposite Shree Mahalaxmi Temple in the heart of the city which was tarred weeks back, has been dug up again.
Presently, the roads that have been dug up include Tonca Circle up to the Sewerage Treatment Plant stretch, from Expert Pharmacy to Madhuban Circle, stretch from National Theatre to Govinda building, and small stretch at Saraswati Mandir building and Shree Mahalaxmi Temple. All these stretches continue to remain completely blocked due to ongoing works.
“Because the city roads are bad they gave us false promises that everything would be completed. You can see the haphazard work still going on. Nobody is taking responsibility. Looking at the pace, none of the ongoing works will be completed before monsoon. People are inconvenienced and are given fake promises,” said Cecille Rodrigues, political activist.
Former Mayor and senior-most councillor, Surendra Furtado said that the public has been inconvenienced as multiple works have been implemented at one go under the Smart City Mission.
“IPSCDL and other agencies started the work late and they tried to chew more than they could eat. They should have taken up work in a phased manner. Taking up different works at one go was a bad and senseless decision. They should have brought in bigger manpower in view of G20 to complete the work for constructions of pavements, etc. I only pray that the city remains intact during monsoon,” Furtado said.
Social activist Mahesh Mhambrey said that rampant digging of roads in the State’s capital city is going on due to lack of coordination between government departments.
“To develop Panjim as a Smart City was announced in 2014 and even after nearly 10 years, works are still not complete. Actual works are going on for the last two years and have been implemented in haste without proper planning. March 31 was set as the deadline to stop road digging work, but we see even today it is going on. The works currently executed are shoddy and haphazard. We will come to know in monsoon how smart Panjim has become,” Mhambrey said.
He said that the local MLA, CCP Mayor, IPSCDL and the State government are responsible for the mess in the city.
Contact could not be established with IPSCDL officials for their comments.
