A concrete construction in the Mandovi river opposite the old Goa Medical College building reportedly for a walkway from the DB Marg to the Campal beach has been red-flagged by a group of Panjim residents who fear it will block the river flow and endanger the tidal effect on the already deteriorating St Inez Creek.
Charging the Imagine Panaji Smart City Limited (IPSCL) with lack of transparency in executing the work, of the group of citizens said the authorities are deliberately functioning secretly with the ‘smart city’ plans.
“The haphazard concrete work is being done in the river and in an eco-sensitive zone,” said Patricia Pinto who is part of a recently formed ‘Save Panjim’ group and has raised concerns over a number of commercial tourism-related projects in the capital city.
Pinto, a former Corporation of the City of Panaji councillor, said the concrete work along the river bank will lead to blocking of the river’s flow in and out of the St Inez creek.
“This will lead to clogging of the water and sewage across the city,” the group said.
Pinto also slammed the State administration for shunning transparency.
“On November 1, we had asked for plans of the proposed work which is underway and a reminder was also sent on November 14,” Pinto said and expressed surprise that till date the administration has not responded.
The proposed ropeway between Reis Magos and Panaji is another project which the citizens’ group is objecting, accusing the government of commercialising rampantly the serene Panaji bank of the river.
