PANJIM: The Chief Minister and the Panjim MLA played Smart City musical chair blame game.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that suitable action will be taken against the contractor carrying out Smart City on the basis of the provision in the contract.
However, Panjim MLA and Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate has pushed the blame of Smart City mess and the constant breach of deadlines onto the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL).
Speaking to reporters, Sawant said, “We are carrying out audits of the Smart City works. There has been some delay but there are different reasons behind that. Precautions have been taken and action too has been taken. Already action has been taken against the consultant, who has been removed.”
The Chief Minister said that work is being done by the contractors without paying them any extra money as per liability
for defects in construction contracts.”
On the other hand, Revenue Minister Babush Monserrate said that it is the high time that the consultancy business is stopped.
"It is high time that this consultancy business is stopped. We have got our departments who got chief engineers who are more knowledgeable than these consultants," he said.
"As far as action to be taken is concerned we will take when the need be. If the contractor has not done the work and defaulted or the work is substandard, the action will be taken. Let the smart city work be finished first then we will know what is the problem. Contractor must be taken to task if the work is substandard," Monserrate said.