PANJIM: The public consultation seeking inputs to re-draft the Smart City Proposal (SCP) for Panjim led to suggestions that the city’s surrounding areas should not be ignored.
Dr Nandakumar Kamat said the nation is looking towards Panjim and hence we need to work smartly on the SCP. “Urban agglomerate is to be taken into consideration. The plan cannot and should not ignore the outgrowth of the city. Urban areas like Bambolim, Porvorim and Kadamba Plateau cannot be allowed to continue under a village panchayat,” he said.
The consultation chaired by local MLA Siddharath Kuncolienkar, and organized by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Tuesday, drew little response. CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues and Mayor Surendra Furtado were also present.
“Our strategy for SCP upgradation has been to prepare the draft in light of observations made by the Union Ministry and based on inputs of winning city proposals,” Rodrigues told the people.
Panjim failed to find a place in the first 20 cities selected for the Smart City Mission fund in January. The State capital now ranks 5th in the fast track competition list, which has 22 other cities competing.
The upgraded SCP will be placed before the High Powered Select Committee and Council on Wednesday. The council will clear the new proposal on March 30 and the HPSC on March 31. The deadline for submission of SCP is April 15.
