On the pretext of using the glamorous words ‘Smart City’ the beautiful river-side, beach-bordered city of Panaji has been mauled and scarred beyond recognition. Much has been written, debated and photographed by media and citizens on this topic but nothing much has changed. Even near places of worship (Bal Bhavan Ganesh, Apte Ganesh, Mahalakshmi temple, St Inez church), St Inez crematoriums and cemetery have been subjected to foul smell, drainage overflow and sinking roads. There has been less respite from constructions, destructions and re-constructions of roads, barriers, pavers, street-lights etc. We ask the authorities to give us back the old ‘un-smart’ city of Panaji which had less moles, warts, and acnes.
