the goan I network
MAPUSA
Allaying fears on the Smart City project, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the Smart City Board would be reconstituted and a meeting of the board would be convened within eight days to thrash out all issues of the local MLA.
“The Smart City project is in the interest of Panaji. The MLA is a member of the Smart City Board and therefore can attend the meeting. We will invite the board meeting within eight days,” Dr Sawant said, while responding to Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate.
The chief minister intervened after Monserrate cornered the PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar on issuance of NOCs for digging to Smart City instead of CCP.
“I am the MLA of Panaji and I am not even aware what is happening in the capital city,” Monserrate said.
Earlier, in response to the Panaji MLA’s query, Pauskar said NOC to dig the Panaji to
Ribandar main and internal roads were issued to Smart City to lay underground power cables and sewerage project.
“NOCs have to be given to municipalities and not to Smart City. The Smart City has to go through the municipality. Is the Smart City an extra-constitutional authority?” Babush questioned.
Leader of Opposition, Digambar Kamat said Smart City was encroaching into the domain of other departments.
“Underground power cabling is looked after by the electricity department while the sewerage network is looked after by the PWD or GSIDC. If the Smart City gets funds for underground cabling it has to be routed through the electricity department”, Kamat said.
The chief minister informed the House that a notification was issued by the govt where powers were given to Smart City to execute the works.
