Goa NCP deplore non-inclusion of Panaji in Smart City phase-1

PANAJI: The NCP in Goa today decried the non-inclusion of the state capital Panaji in the first phase of the ' Smart City' project and put the onus of the same on the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is the former state Chief Minister.

"Goa not being included in the list is a proof of how he (Manohar Parrikar) is looked upon with contempt by his own government.

"It is also clear indication that he was not smart enough to convince the Union government to include Panaji in the list," NCP Goa spokesman Trajano D'Mello told reporters.

Panaji is not included in the list of the 20 cities which would be developed in the first phase of the Centre's 'Smart City' project.

The Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP), a civic body that submitted the city's proposal, said it will improve the proposal and resend it.

D'Mello said the CCP was bluffing the people of Goa with the false hope that the city still stands a chance of selection.

The spokesman questioned why the CCP, which is bankrupt, spent crores of rupees on the consultant to prepare the proposal.