'What good can come out of Panaji'? is a question uppermost in the minds of every Goan today, borne out adequately by the news report' Panaji is the most polluted place in Goa, reveals data' ( TGE Feb11) by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change. This is not anything new or surprising, since the capital city has always been in the news for high pollution, garbage, and stench emanating from the garbage treatment plant in the midst of the city. The present relentless and unplanned road digging has further added to the dust pollution and increase of particulate matter in the city which is much above the permissible limits. Vehicular pollution has further aggravated the situation with the increase in the number of vehicles, traffic jams and the plying of old vehicles with high carbon emissions. It is not known why the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has all along played the role of a mere spectator instead of taking corrective action in building the much touted 'Smart City'. Added to the pollution menace we also have badly potholed roads and low-lying areas that witness water logging and flooding every monsoon that are the cause of traffic jams that bring the city to a halt. Cleaning of city drains commences in early March, only to get clogged at the start of the monsoons. In short what we are witnessing is the destruction of this once beautiful capital city of Goa. A very sad state of affairs indeed.
