PANAJI
Exactly a week ago, excavation of the footpath along the Cunha Riviera Road amidst the ongoing 'Smart City' works made news because of the surprising find of the stone sculpture which many identified as being similar to such statues in Siridao belonging to the Paulist missionaries and possibly dating back to the 16-17th century.
What however skipped everyone's attention was why the pavement was being excavated so late in the day when all other major work along this road are already complete and only finishing remains.
Sources told The Goan that this excavation of the footpath is an after-thought by planners of the 'smart city' work and is necessitated to lay a water supply pipeline.
"The old pipeline which lies under the road is being discontinued for some technical reason and a new pipeline has to be laid under the footpath. Therefore the excavation," said a source who did not want to be named.
Exactly at the spot where the stone sculpture was discovered near the old 'Barbaria' lies the concretised bylane between the original Ritz Cafe, Bar and Restaurant and Hotel Aroma which enjoins the Cunha Riviera Road in a T-junction.
"The thick concrete road was laid last year. It will now be gored through for the new pipeline being laid under the footpath," the source said, adding that this is only one among several other such 'faux pas' scenarios played out during the last nearly two years that the 'smart city' projects are being executed in the capital city.
