Goa CM Pramod Sawant Inspects Smart City Work At Night

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday night inspected the works being done under the smart city project and said that work will not be stopped even in the rainy season and will continue to meet the extended deadlines. 

Sawant addressed the media after the review. "After taking a review meeting, we have decided to continue the work even in the rainy season and complete it as soon as possible, so in October there will be no dust seen in the city," Sawant told reporters.

The CM added that the workers have been informed about the continuity of the work and the work will start in full swing. "We have changed our decision to take a pause. Now we will continue all types of work and construct concrete roads in the rainy season," he said.

Sawant further added that if the work continues in the rainy season, it will be easier to identify the flooding issues and manage them. 

It may be recalled that the Panaji city has been dug up to lay a new sewerage network, along with to create new storm water drains, underground utility lines and shift power lines underground. Sawant said that the work will be completed by October. “All works will be done in monsoon, even constructing a concrete road. I know that people are facing problems, hence will try to complete work in monsoon itself," he said.

The action comes in the wake of Congress’ suggestion to union urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who was in Goa for the committee meeting of the Smart City Mission, had suggested the BJP's central leader to have 'Padyatra' in Panaji to know about the substandard work done, and the corruption involved in the project.

Congress leader Amarnath Panjikar had said, "We have come to know that Union Minister for Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has come to take a review of Smart City projects, as we have exposed the scams and mismanagement of this work. I hope that he will not only sit in air-conditioned rooms and hold meetings, but will come out and have 'Padyatra' in Panaji city to have a real review."