PANJIM: The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), Government of India, and esteemed partners such as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), is spearheading the “Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon Resilient Cities (Urban Act)”project in Panjim.
This initiative, endorsed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), underscores IPSCDL’s commitment to fostering sustainable urban development. With regional partners including the University of Dortmund and the University of Stuttgart, the IPSCDL aims to pioneer innovative solutions for building low-carbon, resilient cities in Panjim and beyond.
Given the pressing urgency of climate change, the workshop held significant importance. Panjim, the capital of Goa, had recently been identified as one of the 15 Indian cities at high risk due to climate change.
The primary objective of the workshop was to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences concerning the development of urban resilience to climate change. Managing Director and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of IPSCDL Sanjit Rodrigues, said, “The workshop on Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon Resilient Cities (Urban Act) signifies a pivotal moment in our efforts to enhance city climate resilience in Panjim, our State capital. We would like to take ideas from across the world and focus on the things that are implementable and Goa centric. We would like to crystallise all these ideas into a rule book and make it policy-driven. This workshop is paramount as it brings together key stakeholders to address the pressing need for sustainable urban development. By fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge, the workshop aims to formulate strategies for building a low-carbon, resilient urban environment in Panaji. This initiative holds immense value as it equips us with the tools and insights needed to mitigate climate risks and ensure a sustainable future for our city.“
Meanwhile, the IPSCDL on Tuesday opened the stretch of concrete road connecting Caculo Mall Junction to Madhuban Junction and onwards to TB Hospital. This development promises to significantly reduce travel time, ease traffic and enhance road safety for commuters in the capital city.
Reacting to the opening of road by the IPSCDL, Sagar Kumar, a shopkeeper from St Inez said, “Dust pollution is unbearable. My respiratory system has been affected. One side, they say they have opened roads but maximum roads in the city are closed and digging work is still on. My home delivery is affected and even my fast moving consumer goods are getting spoilt. They should have undertaken road work in phases.”
Prashant Gunaji, a hotelier from St Inez said, “We are facing lot of problems. There are no customers as clouds of dust used to fly and even enter our hotel. There is 70 per cent decline in the number of customers visiting the hotel. We have to clean the tables every two minutes.”
