PANAJI
In the face of public anger over severe dust pollution and inconvenience caused by the ongoing smart city works, Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate on Friday uncharacteristically took cover of the 'no gain without pain' philosophical proverb.
"If you want to see the rainbow, you must bear a little rain," Monserrate said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of a visit to sites around the Saint Agnes Church in St Inez.
Monserrate was being briefed of the work's progress by Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, who heads the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) as managing director and CEO.
Also part of the team inspecting the work alongwith Monserrate was the municipal engineer of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), Parsekar and other officials.
Monserrate in his interaction with media persons at one of the sites he inspected said citizens have been complaining of dust pollution which has caused some senior citizens to fall sick.
"I know some shops are affected but you have to bear it because it's just a matter of some more time," Monserrate said, adding that he has issued instructions that sites where work is being done should be sealed completely so execution is unhindered.
The minister, who is part of the IPSCDL BoD and also represents Panaji, said that the progress of the work is satisfactory and it will all be completed by the May 31 deadline.
