PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday adjourned for Wednesday , the hearing on the two Public Interest Litigations (PIL) writ petitions filed against the ongoing Smart City works.
The concerned citizens of the capital city have approached the high court pointing out that the ongoing works has caused unprecedented pollution.
In the first PIL writ petition, three 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.
In the second 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.
Hearing both the PILs together, the Court asked the Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) to give time-line when the ongoing works will be completed.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam submitted that the State government has already issued strict directions to all the concerned to complete the works by May 31, 2024.
But the court asked them to give details about details of all the ongoing projects. The court wanted some responsible officer of TPSCDL to remain present during the hearing. Considering the issues raised, the respondents must respond to the issues of dust pollution and road safety, the division bench comprising Justices Mahesh S Sonak and Valmiki SA Menezes, said.
The Court has also asked the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Corporation of The City of Panaji (CCP) to remain present during the Wednesday's hearing.
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, IPSCDL, Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited, and others.
Adv Shivan Desai is representing petitioners Piyush Panchal, Alwyn D'Sa and Neelam Navelkar while, Adv Abhijit Gosavi is arguing on behalf of two other petitioners Christus C Lopes and Sadanand Vaingankar.