PANAJI
To ensure the food safety of the VIP guests while also taking care of their entire hospitality during the G20 Summit, the authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure meticulous testing of meal samples before they are served to the dignitaries.
The authorities have taken stringent steps that the meals served during the Summit are of the highest quality, fresh and meet the strictest safety standards.
All this among other services was discussed in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to review the preparations ahead of the meeting, which was also attended by various government officials and officers responsible for carrying out different aspects of the preparations.
Besides food testing by the FDA, several other important aspects related to the power infrastructure, aesthetics lighting of monuments, civil works under GSIDC, civil infrastructure works under PWD, medical cover under the directorate of health, transportation under KTC, internet connectivity by the Department of IT and communication, cultural components by the Art and Culture Department, waste management by GWMC, and liaison officers under the Protocol department were extensively discussed.
In addition, other important matters including delegates' bags, souvenirs, staff and office space, communication strategy, excursions for the delegates, beautification of roads, city sprucing, and smart city works were also discussed.
"The preparations for the G20 meetings are being taken very seriously by the Goa government, and no effort is being spared to ensure that everything is in order. The officials responsible for the different aspects of the preparations are working tirelessly in tandem with other departments to ensure that everything is in place and that the meetings run smoothly," Sanjit Rodrigues, Nodal Officer for G20) said.
Damaged electricity poles replaced,
power restored at crucial locations
PANAJI: With a budget allocation of Rs 45 crores, the Electricity Department claims to have overcome various challenges to restore power supply to Bambolim, Dona Paula, and surrounding areas. Ironically, the restoration comes ahead of the G20 Summit as several meetings are lined up around this vicinity.
“The main hurdle was to restore power supply to areas of Bambolim, Dona Paula and surrounding areas where the meetings are slated to take place. The quality of power has to be without a single interruption and this was not possible to achieve without plugging the bottlenecks and other infrastructure-related issues that affect power supply,” Arun Patil, Executive Engineer (Electricity) said.
These areas received supply from the feeder at Kadamba Plateau, and it was during the road widening works that three vital power cables were pushed beneath the upper surface of the road and embedded under the concrete. “Rectifying this power feed was not viable. So the task was huge, both in terms of cost and manpower to shift these cables,” Patil explained.
The capital city has also been lit up as the D B Road is fitted with new lamp posts.
“The stretch which has ornamental fixtures of HPSV Lamps manufactured by Kesselec Schreder stopped production in 2012. Thus, considering the need to use modern and energy-saving lights, a decision to use LED lamp posts was taken. Now, a longer stretch from Miramar upto KTC Bus Stand has been lit up uniformly, and from Merces Circle to Old Goa Circle with over 1400 LED lamp posts,” the officer said.
