PANJIM: The High Court judges Justice Mahesh S Sonak and Justice Valmiki SA Menezes on Monday evening while inspecting the ongoing Smart City works in Panjim appeared to be dissatisfied with the ongoing works particularly due to dust pollution and found that the junction near Sheetal Hotel at St Inez was the most crucial for the vehicular traffic.
The inspection was held following two public interest litigation (PIL) writ petitions filed by some citizens seeking directions to mitigate dust pollution.
The Justice Sonak and Justice Menezes held the inspection of works for more than one-and-half-hour on the eve of another hearing in the matter scheduled on Tuesday in the presence of Advocate General Devidas Pangam, Managing Director of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, officials of the departments concerned, advocates, petitioners and few citizens.
Both the Judges along with others inspected the construction of cemented road from the junction near Vivanta By Taj and up to junction rear the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services at St Inez, Panjim; works at Dada Vaidya Road, Atmaram Borkar Road and Cunha Rivara Road, opposite municipal garden.
During the inspection, both the Judges asked the IPSCDL Managing Director about the steps taken particularly the access/road for the residents of Tamba Colony at St Inez since the main road was closed for last nearly one month.
Rodrigues explained the measures taken by the IPSCDL and the contractors to alleviate the difficulties faced by the people. He said that the road from Vivanta by Taj up to St Inez junction would be opened for vehicular traffic from April 10 while, all the ongoing works will be completed by May 31.
Both the Judges appeared to be dissatisfied with the ongoing Smart City works particularly due to dust pollution. They found that the junction near Sheetal Hotel at St Inez was the most crucial for the vehicular traffic.
It is learnt that the issue of ongoing works and traffic problems was also discussed by the Court when the government deferred the seafood festival at Miramar in February this year.
The government authorities had already submitted details of the measures taken to control dust pollution, traffic situation and safety precautions.
One of the petitioners Piyush Panchal stressed on dust pollution caused due to excavation works and told the Judges that the authorities be asked to deploy truck mounted mechanical road sweeping machines/vacuum cleaners to sweep the roads and clear the dust in Panjim.
Speaking to journslists Rodrigues said, “’The Court has carried out the inspection and we have placed pour point of view. All suggestions are welcome. We are working with everybody. It is not that the suggestions came today. Suggestions have been pouring in and we have been working on the suggestions. There is no question of working on suggestions selectively.”
When asked about the work being closed on Sunday, Rodrigues said, “I have no comments to make. Keep your suggestions at your level. You have seen the work going on. Do not bring allegations here. If you have facts then talk about that. We have scheduled our work hour-to-hour. I do not care about what people say. We work as per our schedule.”
Former Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Manoj Caculo said, “The honourable judges have themselves seen the work on which false statements were being made. Here they were making statements that they were sprinkling water but the fact is there the water is being sprinkled in the city for just two days. There is proof as CCTV cameras have been installed at various places. All false claims were being made by the officials.”
