PANJIM: After a huge public outcry against the Smart City mess, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the government is in the process of preparing a report on the Smart City project which will incorporate details of the work completed and the actions initiated against the project consultants, contractors and others involved.
“An elaborate report will be prepared and ready soon. Whatever work that has been completed and action initiated against the errant consultants and contractors will be elucidated and reflected in the book. The government will not spend any additional money on works that have collapsed or gone down the drain by the concerned contractors will have to make good the damage by completing the work ,” Sawant said while addressing a press conference at the Mantralaya in Porvorim.
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Initially the CM had stated that the consultant had been removed and threatened to initiate stringent action against the erring contractors.
The Chief Minister said sewerage work was necessary.
“Had we not taken up the sewerage work, there would have been a problem,” the CM stated.
The Chief Minister said he was sorry that the people had to face inconvenience due to the works undertaken but added that the works will ensure that there would be no problem during the next 25 years.
The Chief Minister said that Tamnar Project will be inaugurated before October 2024.
“Work of Tanmar project is underway. The two or three poles which are left will be completed soon. The inauguration should be before October 2024,”he said and urged people to bear with the power tariff hike which he termed as small.
“Rs 2,000 crore have been spent on power infrastructure during my tenure. If people want good infrastructure and uninterrupted power supply, they will have to be ready to pay a little more,” he said.
Penalise those responsible for Smart City mess, demands former Panjim MLA Kuncalienker
PANJIM: Former Panjim MLA Sidharth Kuncalienkar on Wednesday demanded that whoever is responsible for the Smart City mess should be pulled up and penalised.
“Whether it’s the contractors or consultants whoever it is, has to be booked and no one should be spared,” said Kuncalienker
“I am also a Panjimite. Today Smart City works are monitored by the High Court and I think, the Court will take some decision.”
He said that the State government is committed to hold whoever responsible for the current mess responsible and he will face action.
Kuncalienker, who is also the former IPSCDL chairman, opined that if there was no proper coordination between the inter-departments. The projects could have been planned sector wise and area wise. He said that consultants were not appointed during his tenure.
He said that the government has now taken measures to desilt storm water drains in order to prevent flooding of roads in the capital city.
