PANJIM: A second public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition has been filed in the High Court of Bombay at Goa by two Panjim citizens against the ongoing Smart City works.
In their PIL writ petition, Christus C Lopes of Caranzalem and Sadanand Vaigankar of Panjim have stated that the ongoing works has held the Panjim city to unprecedented chaotic situation for last more than two years and it appears that such situation will continue to haunt the residents of Panjim and people visiting the capital city for many more months to come if it is not regulated in strict manner.
Further the situation is likely to be aggravated on account of the upcoming monsoon season and there is likelihood of the city getting flooded on account of numerous unfinished works across Panjim city.
The works under Smart City project had resulted in the roads being dug up at every place and/or blocked at most of the places making it virtually impossible to commute on the roads in the city, the petitioners stated. They have also attached photographs of the works showing the present situation in the respect of the works carried out around the city such as road blockades, flooding, accident and deaths, road caving and air and dust pollution.
The petitioners have sought directions to the respondents to complete the unfinished works within time bound manner by taking requisite measures so as to ensure safetya, health of citizens and to take adequate measures to control pollution arising out of the activities related to the Smart City projects.
They have further sought appropriate investigation against the officers/persons responsible for the delay in completion of the works and action against officers/persons responsible for the works which resulted in accidents, pollution and even deaths of citizens.
The petitioners have named 20 respondents in the petition including North Goa Collector, Deputy Collector, Chief Town Planner, CCP Commissioner, PWD Chief Engineer, Electricity Chief Engineer, Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Limited, Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited, and others.
A few days back, three other Panjim citizens Piyush Panchal, Alwyn D’Sa and Neelam Navelkar filed a PIL writ petition in the High Court regarding dust pollution due to ongoing Smart City works in the capital city and has sought directions to the authorities to provide mechanism to curb dust pollution during works. They have also prayed for setting up of real time ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations at different locations in Panjim.
