PANJIM: While the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) claims to have received over 5000 unique suggestions from citizens on the Smart City development project, the reality could be different. The kiosks and the social media campaign launched by the Corporation, have received a rather lukewarm response from citizens and the interactive sessions held over a fortnight by CCP saw few people attending.
The poor response could be attributed to the fact that over the years the government and the civic body have come up with several plans and proposals for Panjim’s development with regards to solid waste management, sanitation, parking, and overall development, but none have gone beyond the planning stage. This is something that has annoyed residents.
“The city prepared a holistic master plan last year but no attempt was made to execute the proposals. Similarly, several plans have been worked out to redevelop and beautify St Inez creek, but till today the creek remains contaminated. This smart city thing will be another similar exercise,” Mala resident Pankaj Kundaikar said. He was in the company of colleagues and friends who supported the statement.
Engaging the citizens and ensuring public participation in the city’s development is the core of the Smart City project. A month-long consultation process with the citizens and concerned stakeholders is underway through interactive sessions, ward-wise meetings, online polling, social media campaign and through kiosks set up across the city. Citizens were asked to submit suggestions about the projects that should be taken up for implementation under the Smart City project.
While the first interactive session, held in a starred-hotel earlier this month, received an overwhelming response, the same faded out as the days progressed. A tour of the city, in the areas where kiosks have been set up, gives a clear picture of the lack of response from citizens.
Sources in the CCP do admit this. “Except for the kiosks set up in the municipal market and near Pharmacy College, there isn’t much or rather no response from the people. In those two areas, we have got good feedback,” sources said.
The disinterest could be due past experience. “Whatever suggestions the people may give, in the end the proposal will highlight what the government and authorities want,” Manoj Pai Kane, a shopkeeper in the city, said.
“Former deputy mayor Kabir Pinto Makhija explains reasons for the poor response saying, “The reason for the lack of response is very simple as people have lost confidence in the CCP. The common man has five major issues he wants dealt with on a priority basis – proper parking with a proper traffic plan, repairs to roads, upgraded public transport facilities, garbage management and the St Inez creek cleaned up. Once these are in order, citizens can think of responding to ‘ambitious smart city’ plans.”
On the social networking side, the Twitter handle (@smartcitypanaji) has only seven followers till now and no suggestions received. The Facebook page (Imagine Panaji: Build Your Smart City), has around 640 followers by now, but suggestions that are few enough to be counted on one’s fingers. The suggestions here too are that CCP should go ahead with its existing plans.
CCP says the citizens have re-endorsed for the holistic development of the city, while indicating the need for minor changes.
