PANJIM: Promoted as a serene corridor celebrating wellness and culture, the recently developed Yog Setu promenade in Panjim, Goa, is facing public criticism over flawed architectural design. Citizens and visitors have expressed concern after statues along the pathway were found holding stagnant rainwater, transforming the public art installations into potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The Yog Path, constructed under the Imagine Panjim Smart City Development initiative, features several sculptures depicting various yoga postures (asanas). However, a sculpture like the one portraying an inverted pose features a concave surface with no drainage outlets. Following recent rains, these hollow areas have collected pools of stagnant water.
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With vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria posing a persistent threat during rainy conditions in Goa, local visitors and morning walkers are voicing frustration over the lack of functional oversight.
“The concept behind Yog Setu was meant to promote tranquility and health, but the execution overlooks basic civil design principles,” noted a local resident. “Art in open public spaces must be weather-resistant and self-draining, especially in a coastal state that receives heavy monsoons.”
Public health experts continuously urge civic authorities to eliminate standing water in urban areas. Citizens are now demanding that Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) and maintenance contractors immediately drill subtle drainage holes into affected sculptures to prevent health hazards along the Mandovi promenade.
