A fair reasoned debate and fruitful discussion is the very essence of democracy as it paves way for transparency and accountability in Governance. Our MLAs are very handsomely paid with enormous perks and other benefits but most of them have failed as legislators, a role they were elected for.
It is unfortunate that the sessions of our Legislative Assembly in recent years have been sought to be curtailed while curbing room for deliberating issues concerning the people. Misusing the brute majority, brazen bulldozing of legislations without a debate and discussion has been the norm.
Sadly the scene at the Corporation of the City of Panaji now is no better with their meetings being also an eyewash and just a formality. While in the Opposition Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate had accused the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) of being a big den of rampant corruption and had demanded a public discussion and scrutiny of projects being undertaken.
Ironically Babush Monserrate and his Mayor son are now Directors of that very IPSCDL and there is no consultative process whatsoever with the residents of Panaji city which includes Ribandar on the projects being approved.
Without a truly genuine and concerted effort to improve the city’s crumbling infrastructure by taking the people into confidence, our now plunging Panaji will only end up being further submerged with public money down the drain. There needs to be a public vigil to ensure Zero Tolerance to scams in the name of development.
