Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: A group of residents from Panaji have moved High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking its intervention for necessary directions to the State government and IPSCDL to put in place measures to mitigate dust pollution caused due to ongoing unplanned Smart City works.
The petitioners have pleaded to install permanent real time Air Ambient Quality Monitoring Stations at all important locations in the city that will help ascertain the level of pollution.
“Panaji’s dust pollution has gotten worse, and unforeseen Smart City projects have also caused problems. Additionally, the GSPCB has not given the problem any attention. In order to help the people of Panaji and hasten the project’s completion, we have thus requested the High Court’s intervention,” stated one of the petitioners.
While almost all roads and lanes are currently closed due to ongoing construction, IPSCDL started excavating close to the Mahalaxmi Temple and the Mushtifund School. Due to ongoing exams, the institution requested that the work be delayed until the end of March, according to sources.
However, the work proceeded regardless, causing inconvenience and dust pollution that even affected visitors to the temple.
Due to ongoing traffic congestion caused by Smart City construction, the High Court took suo moto notice of the issue last year and ordered the transport secretary to create an action plan. Even though a report was turned in, the ongoing construction increased the city’s traffic issues.
