PANJIM: Three public-spirited citizens from Panjim have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa regarding dust pollution caused due to ongoing Smart City works in the capital city.
Piyush Panchal, Alwyn D’Sa and Neelam Navelkar, all residents of Miramar, Panjim in their petition have highlighted the potential health hazards that may be ensued on account of the authorities not undertaking adequate measures to curb or control or eliminate the dust pollution caused by the various roads and other infrastructure works being undertaken in the capital city.
They have stated that the respondents have not taken cognisance of the dust pollution arising out of the road construction and other infrastructural works. The residents are exposed to dust pollution at practically every nook and corner making it impermissible to walk or commute otherwise than by four-wheelers.
According to the petitioners, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had not taken the assessment study of the impact of the large scale road construction and infrastructural works being undertaken simultaneously in high density residential and commercial areas within the limits of Panjim, amounting to neglect of public health and safety.
The indiscriminate and unplanned nature of works had led to major routes within the city, leading to the hospitals across Panjim being fully or partially closed thereby impeding access to health services for residents and patients, who are grappling with various health ailments. The entire city is replete with road blocks, which can potentially deny access in cases of emergency thereby posing serious threat to life of patients and residents.
The petitioners stated that the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) and the contractor had not adopted anti-smog guns, regular street sweeping using truck mechanical sweepers/vacuum cleaners and chemical methods.
The manner in which works are being undertaken over the last three years make it clear that the works are being executed indiscriminately
by different agencies through the IPSCDL, which had practically disrupted daily life of the residents of Panjim. There is absolutely no road map for the works being undertaken and the entire road network connecting the city has been dug up multiple times with no end in sight, the petitioners stated.
A petitioner’s wife suffered from respiratory disorders/ailments on account of the works being undertaken in the city spanning over nearly three years.
There is no traffic management plan nor are there any traffic personnel to guide the commuters nor is there any traffic advisory made available to the public, they stated.
The petitioners have prayed that the authorities be directed to provide mechanism to curb dust pollution during ongoing Smart City works and to set up real time ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations at different locations to collect data and monitor the air quality standards within the vicinity of the ongoing works.
The petitioners have also sought directions to the respondents to permanently deploy adequate number of truck mounted mechanical road sweeping machines/vacuum cleaners to sweep the roads and clear the dust in Panjim and to provide for appropriate mechanism for curbing or controlling dust pollution during ongoing works.