Team Herald
PANJIM: The Smart City authorities may claim that 90% of the road work taken up under the project is complete and rest will be done by May 31, but Panjim may be staring at a bleak monsoon season, thanks to the delay in completion of the work. This update comes even as Panjim MLA and minister Antonio ‘Babush’ Monserrate on Wednesday criticised the Smart City work, calling it “substandard”.
According to sources in the
Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), there are fears that the city may see water logging and flooding if mandatory pre-monsoon cleaning of drains does not happen on time.
Reports suggest drain-cleaning has been undertaken in 14 of the 30 wards in the city, leaving 16 wards out as Smart City work inches towards the finishing line at a snail’s pace.
Speaking to O Herlado, a senior CCP official said, "IPSCDL (Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited) has not finished their work on some of the main roads of the city and are concentrating on the peripheral roads. Roads like Dr Pissurlekar Road, 18th June Road and Rua de Ourem are still left."
"Scope of smart city work keeps on changing. They do not share details or updates. Last time we heard that work on the 18th June Road will start soon but recently we got to know that it is not being done," the officer said.
He added that the desilting of the drains started in January and so far, one round has been completed with the second round set to begin soon.
Another official said, "IPSCDL is working on various roads, but we will have to check the quality of the work. We do not know if any inspection is being carried out to check the works being done by the Smart City team. They do not report to us. The work should last at least five years. Once the monsoon starts then it is the CCP that will be criticised."
Meanwhile, Babush Monserrate said, "I have already said that I am not happy with the work. I have been saying that the work is substandard since Day One. Can’t you make out whether the work is substandard or not? If they are saying that 90% work is complete, then let the completed work be handed over to the CCP. Let it be maintained. Once the completed projects are handed over, CCP will check what has been done as per the tender documents," he added.
When asked if Panjim was looking ‘smart’, the minister replied, "I also have eyes, you also have eyes. You should decide."