“Development of smart city is beneficial in improving urban life when development works are carried out progressively and done in coordination with local government. But, there is a lack of coordination between the city corporation and the SPV which needs to be fixed for better implementation of the various development projects and their completion in a timely manner. Leakages need to be fixed as well”
You have been newly elected as Mayor of Goa. For the priorities that you stated during the election campaign, what kind of roadmap you have to achieve them?
My first responsibility is to keep Panaji, the Capital city of Goa clean. Thousands of national and international tourists visit the city every year. Making Goa better is an ongoing process. Upgradation needs to be done constantly. For instance, at someplaces cables are getting laid or somewhere pipelines are getting installed for improving the water supply system in various parts of the city. I have given the deadline of April 30 to all the companies which are associated with these works. After the deadline is over, I will monitor and review the work. Everytime some construction work is done it leaves a huge amount of debris. It makes the city look dirty. It’s my responsibility to get them removed and clean the city also because May onwards city receives heavy rains. There are lots of flood-affected areas in the city. In order to avoid this, desilting of sewages is under process. All the works will be completed by the end of May. Development work never gets over, even though if we remove garbage from one place it again gets piled up. There were many black spots in the city and we have cleaned 95 percent of it. If people are willing to take responsibility and do their bit, then it is not a big deal to keep the city clean.
Urban local bodies have a significant role to play in the initiatives taken by the state government or the central government. It also requires huge funds to execute them. Are they available to you?
In the entire country, the work Smart City Mission is in the process under the supervision of urban local bodies. In Panaji, we are not aware what is happening. Work is directly taken forward by the SPV. After I was elected Mayor, I called for a press conference and insisted that smart city work requires better technology. Recently, I have called the officials from Smart City mission and asked for a list of developmental works being carried out for them. My concern was how to integrate the work done by Municipal Corporation and SPV. Sometimes what happens is that we pass a tender and later we get to know that the same work is undertaken by the smart city as well. So, at last minute we have to cancel the tender. I do not want them to stop their work but only request is to keep us aware of the work undertaken by them. Recently, smart city is installing cameras in the various sectors of the city without the approval of the City Corporation. I immediately asked to stop the work and directed them to write a proper letter and then only I will grant permission because somebody will have to take the responsibility after the completion of work. Sometimes, they just leave the work in the middle. People do not know that and they hold Municipal Corporation responsible. I want the Smart City Mission to use the funds judiciously. I wish Panaji to become one of the top smart cities.
What you have said is very important. Panaji smart city has already formed SPV. So is it that there is no coordination between Smart City SPV and Municipal Corporation of Panaji?
There is no coordination at all. Last time I had demanded to include Mayor also in the board of directors, for now only municipal commissioner is the part of the board. I am representing 30 corporators of 30 wards, so I should know where what kind of work is going on. I should also have a say, if the work is important or not as a first citizen of Panaji.
What mechanism have you adopted to resolve this issue?
As I said, I requested smart city to involve Mayor also in the board of directors. There is no positive response yet. If the work has to be done let us do the work together. Both the bodies should join hands. We are the elected representatives. Ultimately citizens demand accountability from us and hope that we will do something for them. This is the reason why I have put forth these demands.
It has been only a month you have taken up this position. Do you find that work that has been undertaken is also facing issues due to corruption? I have talked to Lucknow Mayor and other mayors too, they admitted that corruption is an issue. Are you facing the same problem?
See, Lucknow is a big city, our city is small and corruption is everywhere.I am strict here, I have told our engineers and contractors to keep the quality of work good. When you have signed a work order, details are outlined. if you work accordingly then there will be no need to take bribe. In the coming rainy season, projects worth more than four crores will be coming up. Tender has been passed but due to Code of Conduct, we are unable to pass the work order. Once the code of conduct is completed, I will give the work order.
All India Institute of Local Self-Government is organizing 3rd World Mayors’ Conference in Goa in January 2020 where mayors from all around the world will be coming. Do you find it important that these kinds of conferences are necessary to be organized where mayors from every corner of the world will be sharing their experiences and ideas?
It’s a good thing that the 3rd World Mayors’ Conference is being organized in Goa. In our own country we can visit different places but it is not financially feasible for us to travel all around the world to understand their ideas and experiences. We will get an idea how the works in other countries are executed. Mayors from all over the world and from India will get an opportunity to present their ideas and experiences. Through this conference, we all will learn and we can gather good ideas and can apply it here too. For instance, waste management is a concern that exists in the entire world. We will be able to get to know about different technologies that can be used.
As you are the Mayor of Goa and in 2020, you will be there with us for the conference, what message you want to give to all the mayors?
It is everyone’s responsibility to keep their own area clean. Join hands with each other and do the work together then that day will not be far when our entire country will be clean. Nothing can be achieved in one day, it takes time to change someone’s habit. Once it is changed, our county will be clean.