PANAJI
The dust pollution caused by the Smart City Project works in Panaji has impacted the lives of the people along with their businesses, both of which have deteriorated. Though it has been assured by the authorities that the ongoing work and roads would be completed in two months, before the onset of monsoon, it seems difficult to believe for most individuals who spoke to The Goan.
“The work is going on at a slow pace. And as it has been promised each time when someone raises a voice that the work will be completed soon, we are now used to such assurances and do not believe a word,” stated a roadside newspaper vendor whose sales are down for almost two years.
The vendor who also sells milk packets shared that people seldom step out of their homes to buy newspaper or milk packets and prefer home deliveries. “I had reduced the number of newspapers and milk packets to half, after Covid pandemic, but this Smart City works have brought my business to almost quarter,” she replied.
Cafe owner's complaint
A popular restaurant Ashwini Cafe that used to witness brisk footfalls of office goers who sat down for a cup of tea, breakfast or afternoon meals, prefer now to take back food packages than sit in the dusty atmosphere. The owner Ashwek Gaonkar stated that the business has slumped more than 50 per cent and there is no guarantee when it would go up again.
A wine shop owner, on condition of anonymity, stated that his business is 60 per cent down. “Customers cannot bring their vehicles as the road in front of my shop is being dug. They are pouring water three times a day to stop the dust from rising in the air, but as the heat is too much, the water evaporates soon.”
And this has been the state of business for most shops across Panaji. A superstore owner complained that her business is down by 75% due to the digging. She shared that the supervisors who work in front of her store tried to convince her that within two months the work would be complete.
Afflicted by wheezing
“I am tired of wiping the dust from my products, and have developed wheezing. The doctors told me that unless the dust pollution is controlled, the wheezing won’t stop. My maid also is tired of dusting the house, which is in the next building adjacent to my superstore. The store and home, both are full of dust for the past two years now,” she complained.
“Yes, the business has come down drastically,” admitted a salesperson in ‘Home and Lifestyle’ showroom while another salesperson mentioned that not a single person has entered his shop since morning.
“I have been just sitting since morning, and it is 12.30 pm now, but not a single book is sold. In fact, no one even stepped in. This is a rented shop, and it’s difficult to pay our overheads if there’s no business. Also, the dust accumulates on our books. And our business is suffering for the past more than a year,” said Ajay, a salesman from Metro Books.
Job reduced to half day's work
A motorcycle pilot Ninjappa Pujari has restricted his business to half a day. “I work only in the morning half. That too, not many customers hire me. People do not frequent the roads as before, because of the dust pollution, which is why I don’t get customers. So, instead of waiting in the dust for a customer to come, I prefer sitting at home,” said Pujari.
A fruit vendor Hussain Shaikh Dongre shared that he has been suffering from asthma, because he sits in the dust from morning to night, selling bananas and papayas. “People are reluctant to buy fruits, because they are dusty. I cover them with paper, but then they are not visible. We, poor people, are, somehow, struggling to survive. The Smart City has reduced both our lives and our livelihoods,” quips Hussain who lives a hand-to-mouth life.
