PANJIM: Congress has accused BJP’s Panjim candidate Sidharth Kuncalienkar of indulging in massive corruption under the guise of Panjim Smart City project.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar alleged that instead of the city becoming smart, the confidant of the former chief minister had indulged in ‘smart corruption’.
“In 2015 the Smart City project was launched in grandeur and a budget of Rs 6200 crore was announced. In the last four years nothing in Panjim has become smart except one thing. In the name of smart city, Sidharth Kuncalienkar’s corruption has become smart”, he alleged.
Girish further alleged that Sidharth was appointed to the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) board as a director without any criteria. “Even after spending crores of rupees, the Union Government’s agencies have reported that the Panjim city has become worse and the rankings have been falling. BJP has nominated someone who has proved a complete failure as Director of IPSCDL”, he added.
Alleging massive corruption in the works being undertaken by the IPSCDL, he gave the example of how IPSCDL spent Rs 1.20 crore for the changing of tiles on the walkover bridge from Mala connecting to Patto. “Recently, they have tendered another work for restoration, refurbishing and interior design of headquarters at the cost of Rs 20 crores. New Secretariat also was constructed in one-third the money they are spending on their office”, he alleged.
He further informed that a tender has been awarded for providing zebra crossing across the Panjim city. “They will be spending Rs 35.22 lakhs on zebra crossing. One wonders what kind of paint will be used for painting these zebra crossings in Panjim”, he added.
GPCC has demanded a white paper from Sidharth on IPSCDL expenditure and the cost benefit ratio for Panjim before seeking votes in election. Girish pointed that in the Swachh Survekshan 2019, Panjim ranked 337 out of 425 cities in the country, stating that it is a proof of the failure of Sidharth.
Stating that none of the issues that were mentioned to be taken up under the smart city project have been successful, Girish said all the issues including the creek, garbage, etc have remained unresolved.
Along with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), he accused the state administration of undermining the democratically elected local body.
