PANJIM: The Carnival Committee will soon begin the process of short- listing the 20 floats that will be eligible for financial assistance of Rs 25,000 and more. Sources said international partners will fund Rs 1 crore for the event as Goa, for the first time, will take Carnival internationally this year.
“The committee will shortlist 20 floats to avail benefits. This is essentially to create quality floats,” Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told Herald after chairing a review meeting of the related agencies on Tuesday. The committee will also screen the floats for obscenity.
With Goa tying up with UK and South Africa, the Carnival float parade is definite to see some change. Goa Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Nilesh Cabral said that Brouhaha International Organisation from Liverpool and Cape Town Carnival Committee will send their teams to train Goan performers.
A float with performers from Cape Town will participate on all four days of the festivity. Cabral also said a team of local youth will participate in the Liverpool Carnival and Cape Town Carnival in March and July, respectively.
Meanwhile, Tourism department has decided to invite popular singer Babul Supriyo as chief guest for the float parade in Panjim. A formal invitation will be sent to the singer.
Representatives of the other departments such as Health, Police, Traffic, Ambulance, and Fire & Emergency Services discussed their respective plans during the meeting. The next meeting has been scheduled next month, two days before ‘Destination Carnival 2016’ commences on February 6.
