PORVORIM: Terming it as a “fraud” on the people of Panjim, BJP MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate said he will not allow Smart City mission projects to take shape in the capital city if the people are not taken into confidence.
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“I am MLA of Panjim for more than 60 days now but I am not ashamed to say that till today I don’t know what is Smart City and what are the projects taken under it,” he stated. He heavily criticised the programme for not having transparency. He demanded that CM Pramod Sawant takes charge of the IPSCDL board. “What does Smart City say? It says that there is no universal accepted definition of smart city. It basically means different things to different people. The concept herefore varies from city to city or country to country depending on the level of development, willingness to change, reforms, resources and aspirations of city residence,” said Babush. “Where is this aspiration of city residents? Someone from Kolkata,some Chaudheri will decide what the people of Panjim need? This is not acceptable to me. I am very clear that there will be no Smart City in Panjim if people are not taken into confidence. This is not what I am saying but this is the sentiment of the public. I am conveying to the govt. May be this is one of the reasons why I got elected. People of Panjim have seen the fraud that is going in the name of Smart City,” he added. He questioned the need for special purpose vehicle comprising of all bureaucrats, with no political representation on it.
