Need to review projects under Smart City, says Babush

the goan I network

PANAJI   

Newly sworn-in Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate on Tuesday said that the projects being undertaken under “Smart City” would “definitely” have to be looked into.   

Speaking after the swearing-in at the Secretariat, Monserrate said that the projects are likely to be reviewed in the next fortnight. 

The Chief Minister (CM) was to be a part of a public consultation meet regarding Smart City projects on Tuesday, but Monserrate said that the same will be held after a fortnight, before which a review of these projects will be held.   

Monserrate also said he was happy that the CM would be handling the Smart City issue. He also requested the CM himself to take over as chairman of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL). 

When asked about ex-Chairman Siddharth Kuncalienkar, Monserrate said there was “no question of Kuncalienkar coming back as chairman” after he resigned from the post. 

Kuncalienkar handed in his resignation before filing his nomination as the BJP candidate for the Panaji 

bypoll.

Further speaking on Smart City, Monserrate said that the feedback of local architects and engineers about what exactly Panjim required, needed to be taken into account, and that work should be carried out in accordance with this.   

He added that getting “some cows, buffaloes 

and bulls doesn’t make the city smart.” 

He also condemned that crores had been spent under the Smart City project, drawing a comparison with someone spending to renovate their house. 

“If you’ve spent money to renovate your house, you need it to look better and not worse than what it was,” 

he said.   

Just before elections, there had been a lot of complaints from the residents of Ribandar with the ongoing underground-cabling work being undertaken there under Smart City. 

Prior to that too, several citizens raised objections to Smart City projects, questioning their necessity. 

The Congress, Monserrate’s party, has been outspoken in their opposition to Smart City projects, getting documents under RTI showing that lakhs and crores of rupees have been allocated for works that can be undertaken for much less. 

Offshore casinos: Babush assures to keep his ‘100 days’ manifesto promise

PANAJI: The new Panaji MLA was firm that the casinos in River  Mandovi would go, even if it meant amending the Act. He said he would  have a talk with the CM about this.  

“If they need to be moved to land, then the Act has to be amended. I  will meet the CM and tell him that the boats should go as far as the  Mandovi is concerned. If he’s taking them to Vasco or somewhere else,  that’s not my problem,” Monserrate said speaking to reporters after the swearing  in.   When asked if he would be able to do the same within 100 days, he expressed confidence that he would.  

Other pressing concerns he said, were getting a Goan commissioner  for the CCP, who would understand local problems, as well as easing the traffic congestion in  Fontainhas at the circle as bikes block the residents of the area.  

Monserrate also didn’t rule out forming the government saying,  “Vijai (Sardessai) is a friend of mine as are other supporting parties.  Let us see how things go.”