Monserrate slams IPSCDL officials for non transparency, demands project presentation for Panjimites

THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Tired of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) project not being transparent in its functioning, Panjim MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate on Monday said that he would take up the issue in the upcoming Assembly session.
Upset with the way the IPSCDL was functioning, Monserrate told "The Goan" that he had scheduled a meeting with the MD and CEO of IPSCDL Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri for Monday, but fifteen minutes before the meeting could start, Chaudhuri informed the legislator by phone that the Chief Minister had asked that the meeting be cancelled.
"I can't understand how the CM is involved in IPSCDL? According to central government norms, it is the MLA of the area, the mayor, and representatives of other groups who have to be a part of the committee, not the CM. But if he wants to come into the picture, so be it, as long as Panjimites are given a presentation on whatever projects IPSCDL wants to undertake," said Monserrate.
Monserrate also slammed IPSCDL officials for not putting up signages on sites where work was being undertaken.
"They need to put up details like when the project was started, to whom the contract was given, and the duration and cost of the project. After my instructions, they put a board in two or three places, including Miramar. The project cost is something like Rs 12 crore, with 50% coming from the Centre and 50% coming from the state, so Panjimites have a right to know the details," he said.
Monserrate says he has written a letter to the CM to arrange a presentation for Panjimites, so that everyone is on board with what's happening.
The Panaji MLA also rued the fact that IPSCDL did not have a garbage treatment plant for the city in its plans.
"Beautifying the capital city comes second, infrastructure comes first. Our infrastructure in Panaji is crumbling. People are falling in potholes in Panaji, but IPSCDL isn't prioritizing these things," he said.