the goan I network
MARGAO
The Margao carnival parade, which was shifted to the Ravindra Bhavan road, is all set to return to the original Holy Spirit-Margao Municipal Square route this year, but may bring to the fore divisions in the civic body over the parade route.
If the Chairman of the Margao Carnival Committee, councillor Arthur D’Silva is to be believed, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and Tourism department has already decided to hold the Margao carnival parade back to the old route along the Holy Spirit Church to the Margao Municipal Square.
Incidentally, even as Arthur announced the government decision to hold the parade on the old route, MMC councillor, Peter Fernandes, told Arthur that he would quit the Margao carnival committee if there’s a change in the parade route.
Briefing the media after the MMC special meeting of the Council, Arthur announced that the Tourism Minister and the Tourism department has taken a decision in favour of holding the carnival parade on the old Holy Spirit-Margao Municipal Square route.
While welcoming the decision, Arthur said the decision will soon be officially communicated to the civic body, adding the preparations will start in full swing to make the Carnival Parade 2020 a grand success.
A member of the carnival committee, councillor Peter Fernandes told Arthur at the briefing that he would quit from the panel if the government decides to hold the parade back in the city. A member of the Goa Forward party, Peter reminded that the Council had in the past decided to make the Ravindra Bhavan road a permanent venue for the carnival and shigmo parade from the traffic point of view.
Disputing the claim, Arthur pointed out that the parade route was shifted to the Ravindra Bhavan road three years ago when the roads in Margao were in bad condition. “Since the government has taken the decision to hold the parade in the city, the committee will go ahead with the preparations to have the parade along the Holy Spirit-MMC Square route,” Arthur added.
