Low Carbon Smart City Project Gets Underway in Goa’s State Capital
Vasco da Gama
The “Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon Resilient Cities (Urban Act)” project in Panjim is being led by the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA), Government of India, and prestigious partners like Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) has backed the initiative, which further demonstrates IPSCDL’s dedication to promoting sustainable urban development. The goal of the IPSCDL is to lead the way in developing creative ideas for creating resilient, low-carbon cities in Panjim and beyond, working with regional partners like the Universities of Stuttgart and Dortmund.
The workshop is significant due to the increasing likelihood of climate change challenges in the future. Panjim, the capital of Goa, has recently been identified as one of the 15 Indian cities at high risk. The primary objective of the workshop was to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences concerning the development of urban resilience to climate change.
Managing Director and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of IPSCDL Sanjit Rodrigues said; “The workshop on Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon Resilient Cities (Urban Act) signifies a pivotal moment in our efforts to enhance city climate resilience in Panjim, our State capital. We would like to take ideas from across the world and focus on the things that are implementable and Goa centric. We would like to crystallise all these ideas into a rule book and make it policy-driven.”
“This workshop is paramount as it brings together key stakeholders to address the pressing need for sustainable urban development. By fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge, the workshop aims to formulate strategies for building a low-carbon, resilient urban environment in Panaji. This initiative holds immense value as it equips us with the tools and insights needed to mitigate climate risks and ensure a sustainable future for our city,“ he continued.
The concrete road segment that connects Caculo Mall Junction to Madhuban Junction and the TB Hospital was launched by the IPSCDL on Tuesday. For commuters in the capital city, this project promises to greatly cut travel times, ease traffic, and improve road safety.
Reacting to the opening of road by the IPSCDL, Sagar Kumar, a shopkeeper from St Inez said, “Dust pollution is unbearable. My respiratory system has been affected. One side, they say they have opened roads but maximum roads in the city are closed and digging work is still on. My home delivery is affected and even my fast moving consumer goods are getting spoilt. They should have undertaken road work in phases.”
Prashant Gunaji, a hotelier from St Inez said, “We are facing lot of problems. There are no customers as clouds of dust used to fly and even enter our hotel. There is 70 per cent decline in the number of customers visiting the hotel. We have to clean the tables every two minutes.”
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