It is absolutely outrageous that despite the raging pandemic, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has decided to hold the 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) this November.
From 2004, Goans have to suffer over a week-long annual nightmare which has in no way benefited the State but only been a big window of opportunity for the politicians in power to rake in huge moolah. Even the small contracts of all events have never been entrusted to the locals.
With its crumbling infrastructure Panaji is already a very congested city and the traffic chaos on account of IFFI is something the city could do without. With the fun and frolic at tax payers expenses, IFFI has only further burdened an already cash strapped State, besides the extra pile up of tonnes of garbage IFFI generates and the municipal authorities have to grapple with.
The common man also suffers as the day-to-day government administration takes a break with officials all pre-occupied with the IFFI fiesta.
IFFI has been a bonanza only to the workers of the political party in power and not been advantageous to the State. Time to bid it a farewell and free Goa from this unwelcome extravaganza.
