Revenue minister and Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate has guaranteed that the Smart City works in Panaji will be completed by May 31, but not the quality. What a crying shame. In this regard it would be pertinent to state that both quality of work and time of completion go hand in hand, and are the essence and mandatory requirements in every construction project. The consultant and contractor are responsible for this, with a penalty clause in the agreements. Strict site supervision by the supervisor and consultant, and adherence to the stipulated specifications laid down for construction work will ensure that both these requirements are fulfilled. Finally, a 'Completion Certificate' by the consultant stating that the work has been completed in a satisfactory manner is also a strict mandatory requirement before handing over the works to the client. Why is this not being followed? We cannot wait till the monsoon to test the quality of works. Any further repair work if required should be carried out at the expense of the contractor, with hefty fines.
