SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
In a recent meeting on monsoon preparedness, Panjim City Mayor and Smart City MD, Sanjit Rodrigues, discussed the challenges faced by the city and outlined their plans to address them. During the meeting, Smart City MD Sanjeet Rodrigues acknowledged that the heavy rainfall had hindered their progress due to high water tables and flooded manholes. Consequently, work had been delayed for several days. However, he assured that the completion date for the smart city project remained unchanged. He announced plans to increase shifts and deploy additional pumps to expedite the work and make up for lost time.
Regarding the upcoming elections, any roads leading to polling stations that require cleaning and operationalizing will be attended to promptly. Discussions between the collector are scheduled to resolve any accessibility issues. Additionally, complaints have been lodged against two contractors responsible for project delays.
The focal point now is the stormwater drainage connection. Efforts will be directed towards clearing bottlenecks and intersections in the drainage system. Road payments will continue, but renewed streets will be prioritized based on their connection to the drainage network.
While a stretch of road from Hindu Pharmacy to Church Square was expected to open on the day of the shower, increased moisture levels after the rain have caused a delay in the work. The authorities aim to complete the project within the next two days, but they must wait for the road to dry before proceeding. It is important to note that all agencies involved are working collectively for the betterment and development of Panjim city.
Mayor Rohit Monserrate expressed concerns over certain areas experiencing flooding after the first pre-monsoon shower, emphasizing the need for swift action. To tackle the issue, the concerned authorities have committed to complete the necessary infrastructure work. He added that one of the steps taken includes requesting the Public Works Department (PWD) to open the old Portuguese drains for desilting.
