PANJIM: The entire ruling panel of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), including Mayor Surendra Furtado, and almost half the BJP councillors stayed away from the event to announce the road map for implementation of the Smart City Development Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for Panjim. Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Development Francis D’Souza expressed his ‘disappointment’ over this saying, “I am disappointed over very little participation from the corporators. We have to make Panjim smart and for that all sections need to be united. There has to be people’s participation.” Besides CCP Commissioner Deepak Dessai, the BJP panel members present were Shubham Chodankar, Vaidehi Naik, Diksha Mayenkar, Prmay Mainkar, Pundalik Raut Desai, Rupesh Halankar and Vasant Agshikar.
Speaking to media persons on the difference between the ruling and opposition panels, D’Souza said, “If they (corporation) want, I am ready to intervene and sort out the issue.”
Refuting allegation that the ruling panel was being sidelined, D’Souza said the proposals were drafted in consultation with the council members. “The old council that passed the resolution, he (Mayor) was also part of it. Old council is also part of the corporation,” he stated.
Furtado had recently alleged that the ruling panel is being bypassed while taking decisions and powers are vested with Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), when the Central guidelines clearly state that it has to go through the local urban body. He has threatened to approach the Lokayukta on the scheme.
