WEDNESDAY, JULY 03, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The residents of Panjim were eagerly waiting for May 31, the deadline given by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) to complete the ongoing road works in the city.
The deadline is now over. But the mess is far from over.
The hopes of locals have been dashed as while the deadline is over, the mess created in the city continues and is going to impact people’s lives heavily as monsoon is almost knocking at the door and may approach the state next week.In April, unseasonal rains caused flooding
and intensified the hardships induced by Smart city works.Panjim found itself battling unexpected inundation.
The relentless downpour for about an hour led to extensive flooding in various localities, including EDC Patto complex, Mala, Bhatlem, Taleigao, and Bombay Bazaar.
Adding salt to injury, city MLA Atanasio Babush Monserrate on May 29 said that he cannot assure that the capital city will not be flooded during the monsoons.
It was none other than Advocate General Devidas Pangam, who had submitted in the High Court that the measures would be taken in the context of dust pollution, traffic situation and safety precautions and strict directives will be issued to all concerned regarding completion of the works by May 31.
But now the reality is that the road stretches from Altinho slope to Bhatlem, the road near Caculo Mall and roads in Mala are yet to be completed. Even road stretches at St Inez are yet to be officially declared open though vehicles are running on them. The work is underway opposite State Police Headquarters and near a popular restaurant.
The residents of the city are wondering when this never ending saga of their suffering is going to end.
Speaking to O Heraldo, former Mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panjim Surendra Furtado said, "The MLA of Panjim has been on the record to say that 90 per cent of the work has been completed and he is satisfied. So be it. If he says that he is satisfied, let us wait and watch till the monsoon arrives. Let us wait and watch and see what happens."
Panjim resident Avertino Miranda said, “The pace at which the work is being executed it, will take one more year to complete. Whatever work is completed, has been done in a haphazard manner. The city may experience flooding as the drains have not been constructed properly.”
“Mud has been left inside the drain. Goa receives a tremendous amount of rainfall. So definitely we are going to experience floods.”
“We saw what happened a few weeks back when the whole city was flooded. The authorities have not learnt lessons even after loss of two lives. They want to see more people get injured. There is no accountability. Unless accountability is fixed, they will continue to do this type of job," Miranda said.
"Coverage of drains should be a priority. Tomorrow you do not know what will happen when you will be walking. As far as the deadline is concerned, they now may say that the deadline was for roads only. But unfortunately roads themselves are not ready," he said.
Sandeep Heble, another resident said, “I do not mind a little extension of the deadline provided quality work is there. But presently if you see, there is no quality in the works which have been completed. If we compare the completed work with works carried out in other cities, Panjim can be found lagging far behind.”
“The rains are going to test the infrastructure further. It remains to be seen how the infrastructure, that has been built spending crores of rupees, is going to sustain in the rains,” Heble added.
Sanjay Sarmalkar, another resident said, “The work is being completed in haste. There is a process to complete a concrete road as it requires curing. The roads are developing cracks because of the substandard work and there is a possibility of more roads developing cracks in the future. Their fate may be like the fate of Dona Paula-Miramar Road."
When contacted, Sanjit Rodrigues, CEO of IPSCDL said, “I can talk to you only tomorrow,” declining to give any further information.
