PANJIM: Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate questioned the manner in which Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has been functioning in the capital. Speaking during the Question Hour on Tuesday, Babush, who has always been critical of the Smart City works, alleged that the agency – appointed to upgrade Panjim into Smart City – has turned out to be an extra constitutional authority.
“Who is IPSCDL to give NOCs (for works in the capital). The powers have to be with the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) instead. The IPSCDL has become extra constitutional authority. I, being the MLA of Panjim does not know what is happening in the IPSCDL,” he alleged.
The legislator was miffed with the pending hot mixing of the Panjim-Ribandar main and internal roads. “Will the minister be pleased to state whether any measures have been taken for hot mixing the Panaji-RIbandar main and internal roads, and if not, the reasons as well as time frame by which the work will be initiated,” he tabled the Starred Question on the floor of the House, to which Minister for Public Works Department Deepak Pauskar responded, “Since, the underground electrical cabling is being carried out and new sewerage scheme is proposed by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd, hot-mixing could not be carried out. The hot-mixing of Ribandar roads will be taken up after the completion of the said works and after obtaining NOC from the IPSCDL so that no further road cutting is done.”
It was at this juncture that Babush sought to know why was IPSCDL interfering with the works related to PWD and other concerned departments.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant intervened in the discussion informing the House that a notification was issued granting certain powers to the IPSCDL. Sawant also assured that he will soon constitute a committee within eight days and hold a meeting to discuss related matters.
Speaking to reporters after the morning session, Babush said he would ask the CM for a thorough inquiry into the functioning of the IPSCDL as well as the CEO Swayan Chaudhuri. “I want to know whether Smart City has bought Panjim, do they want to dictate terms in Panjim? Is this a loot? I will ask CM for a thorough investigation into the Smart City and especially on the CEO,” he said.
