MONDAY, 31 AUGUST 2026

Smartly passing the buck over Smart City works

Panaji is smarting from huge issues relating to it's imagined progression to a 'smart' city. Hurriedly constructed roads are getting dug up right after completion to lay underground utilities, more storm water and sewage drains are being damaged than laid,  bursting of water pipelines occurring due to movement of heavy earthmoving machinery over them, formation of sinkholes due to uncompacted waterlogged subsoil, vehicles regularly getting trapped due to road cave-ins ,  sewage backflow into houses due to blockage of natural drainage channels are some of the 'smart' results which Panaji is experiencing in it's quest to be counted as a world class city. But the worst part is that none of the government officials whose salary comes from taxpayer's money want to be held accountable. The mayor and the deputy mayor have washed their hands off the affair saying that they don't have any powers over the contractors. In the same vein the Director of Transport has now shifted all the blame on to contractors. There is such a thing as 'site supervision' and 'inter departmental' co-ordination which falls within the purview of the sarkar's duties, is it not ?



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Pre-monsoon works must be completed before first rains

ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
Published May 4, 2023, 7:27 PM IST
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It must be said that pre-monsoon work also involves paperwork for the authorities. Tenders have to be floated for carrying out the various works and contractors have to apply for the same. The tender has to be finalized and the work handed over to the contractor who has been selected. All this consumes a lot of time and needs to be commenced at least a couple of months before the rains commence. Pre-monsoon work like cleaning of gutters and storm drains, trimming of trees,…

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