Herald Goa: Panaji: Friday, 31 January 2025.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State
President Adv Amit Palekar has alleged that the Smart City project, implemented
by the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL), is a scam. Palekar
stated that the party will file an application under the Right to Information
(RTI) Act to uncover how much money has been spent on the project and later
approach the High Court if necessary.
Addressing the media, Adv Palekar criticised the execution of the project and expressed concerns about the lack of accountability. “We plan to examine how funds have been allocated and spent by not just IPSCDL but also the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), and the Public Works Department (PWD),” he said.
Palekar claimed that over Rs 1,000 crore had already been spent on the Smart City project, but the results were far from satisfactory. “It has been around four to five years, and over Rs 1,000 crore has been spent, yet the condition of the roads in the capital city is appalling. We are still searching for proper roads in Panjim,” he said, pointing to the ongoing construction chaos.
He specifically highlighted the situation near Azad Maidan, where a road had been dug up multiple times without improvement. “This road has been dug up four times, yet look at the condition. Who is responsible for this? Why isn't anyone questioning the IPSCDL? It seems like they aren’t afraid of anyone,” Palekar said, adding that the public was being unfairly inconvenienced. “Most of the roads are blocked, and people are forced to travel longer distances just to get to their destinations,” he added.
Palekar further alleged that the city’s leadership, including local MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, the Mayor, and BJP leaders, had neglected their responsibilities.
“One festival or another is always being organised in the city, but the people are left with no proper infrastructure. It seems like the MLA, Mayor, and even local BJP leaders are missing in action. The city has been abandoned,” he said.
The AAP leader also accused the IPSCDL of misleading the High Court by claiming that 95% of the work had been completed. “IPSCDL Managing Director Sanjit Rodrigues needs to explain to the people how much work has actually been completed. Is it 95% or just 5%? This has happened because no one is holding the government accountable,” Palekar stated.
He further vowed that AAP’s MLAs would raise these issues in the upcoming Assembly session, demanding answers on why the Smart City project was causing more harm than benefit to the people of Panjim. "The Smart City project is leading to nothing but corruption, and it needs to stop," he said.
Palekar also pointed out that the local MLA, Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, could not evade responsibility for the situation. The AAP has promised to continue its fight for accountability in the project and its impacts on the residents of Panjim.
Addressing the media, Adv Palekar criticised the execution of the project and expressed concerns about the lack of accountability. “We plan to examine how funds have been allocated and spent by not just IPSCDL but also the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), and the Public Works Department (PWD),” he said.
Palekar claimed that over Rs 1,000 crore had already been spent on the Smart City project, but the results were far from satisfactory. “It has been around four to five years, and over Rs 1,000 crore has been spent, yet the condition of the roads in the capital city is appalling. We are still searching for proper roads in Panjim,” he said, pointing to the ongoing construction chaos.
He specifically highlighted the situation near Azad Maidan, where a road had been dug up multiple times without improvement. “This road has been dug up four times, yet look at the condition. Who is responsible for this? Why isn't anyone questioning the IPSCDL? It seems like they aren’t afraid of anyone,” Palekar said, adding that the public was being unfairly inconvenienced. “Most of the roads are blocked, and people are forced to travel longer distances just to get to their destinations,” he added.
Palekar further alleged that the city’s leadership, including local MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, the Mayor, and BJP leaders, had neglected their responsibilities.
“One festival or another is always being organised in the city, but the people are left with no proper infrastructure. It seems like the MLA, Mayor, and even local BJP leaders are missing in action. The city has been abandoned,” he said.
The AAP leader also accused the IPSCDL of misleading the High Court by claiming that 95% of the work had been completed. “IPSCDL Managing Director Sanjit Rodrigues needs to explain to the people how much work has actually been completed. Is it 95% or just 5%? This has happened because no one is holding the government accountable,” Palekar stated.
He further vowed that AAP’s MLAs would raise these issues in the upcoming Assembly session, demanding answers on why the Smart City project was causing more harm than benefit to the people of Panjim. "The Smart City project is leading to nothing but corruption, and it needs to stop," he said.
Palekar also pointed out that the local MLA, Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, could not evade responsibility for the situation. The AAP has promised to continue its fight for accountability in the project and its impacts on the residents of Panjim.
.JPG)
.JPG)
