PANJIM: The special meeting of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) scheduled on December 1, to grant its nod for the Rs 1313 crore Smart City Proposal (SCP) for Panjim is likely to see a major uproar over the financial burden laden on the economically weak corporation to implement the Smart City Development Mission. Councilors have already raised question as to from where CCP is going to generate revenue for the project.
Opposition councilors, supporting the development of Panjim, have expressed their anguish over failure of the consultant – ICLEI South Asia – to prioritize the three major issues haunting the capital city – garbage management, polluted St Inez creek and traffic congestion and parking.
Speaking to Herald, former Mayor Surendra Furtado termed the project as a major scam and claimed that the government needs much more money than it has announced or proposed. “CCP is already reeling under a financial crisis and in such a situation, how is it going to fund the project?” he questioned pointing out that of the total over Rs 800 crore to be spent by State, 20 percent will come from the CCP kitty.
Refusing to disclose his plans for the upcoming meeting, Furtado said, “The project is a scam bigger then Louis Berger scam, wherein no corporators are taken into confidence while drafting the SCP.”
Furtado pointed out that the SCP makes no mention about the three vital issues of Panjim – garbage, creek and traffic congestion. “The government should first focus on these issues, and work on the proposals that have been untouched yet,” he said.
When contacted, another former Mayor Yatin Parekh pointed out that the financially weak CCP cannot take the burden of huge expense of smart city. “From where is the money going to come? Has CCP focused on revenue generating measures? Also, what if tomorrow it rules out funding the project?” he questioned.
“No councilor is against development but CCP has no funds to implement it. CCP will have to shell out nearly Rs 200 crore in the next five years and it is not possible,” he added.
Former Mayor and ruling councilor Vaidhei Naik, however, backed SCP but felt that garbage and St Inez creek issue should have been the priority. “CCP has no funds this a fact. I have not gone through SCP details, but we are confident that the State and Central government will provide all financial support,” she said.
The Smart City Mission consultant has drafted a
Rs 1313.74 crore SCP for Panjim, with thrust on ‘IT enabled municipal services’ comprising solid waste management and e-governance and ‘Eco-mobility and public transport system’.
With the Central Government (Rs 500 crore) and State government along with the urban body (Rs 500 crore), together spending Rs 1000 crore, the consultant has proposed investment through public private partnership (PPP) and from international agencies or through market loans, to implement the Rs 1313.74 crore project under two heads – Pan-City proposal and Area Based development.
