PANJIM: With the sign boards indicating the work undertaken by the agencies missing at the sites, the citizens are confused as to whom to hold accountable for the fast-paced “unplanned and shoddy development” in Panjim.
Currently different infrastructure works are going on in the state’s capital city, but in the absence of signages, the citizens are not able to identify if the works carried out are under the Smart City Mission or implemented by the government as part of the preparedness for the global event, G20 Summit.
“There are no sign boards giving details of the projects. Not all works executed are of good quality. Since there is no signage we don’t know whom to approach to seek answers. The supervisors and workers are giving vague answers when asked about the contractor who is executing the work,” Sunil Naik, who runs a general store in St Inez said.
“As per the law, the contractors executing the work ought to put up a sign board at the site giving details of the project and the name of the proponent of the project. We don’t find that anywhere in Panjim. We want to know who will pay for the unplanned and shoddy development, whether the G20 or Smart City,” Andrew Fernandes, a resident of Miramar said.
Speaking to O Heraldo Vijaykumar Honawad, Chief General Manager of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd claimed that signages giving details of the project and the agency executing the work are put up at all the sites where works have been implemented under the Smart City Mission.
“We have ensured that signages are there at our sites. What you are saying is wrong. I visit the sites very frequently to check the progress of the work and I have seen it,” Honawad said.
Sanjit Rodrigues who is the nodal officer for G20 Summit said, “The works for G20 are being executed by different government departments including PWD. This question should be asked to the concerned departments and the concerned engineers.”
