PANJIM: Lokostav 2020 began under a cloud of confusion and mismanagement. Until the last moment, the organising Department of Art and Culture was sorting out clearances for hosting the event.

Not just this, several people who were allotted stalls were unable to find their spaces even after the inauguration was held. Roughly, 900 stalls have granted permissions for the event that was inaugurated on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.

While Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services granted permission to the festival on Friday morning, Traffic Police and Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), did it just minutes before the event could be inaugurated. CCP, however, was not happy with the traffic management.

One of the persons who has been alloted a stall said, “I was looking for my stall since Thursday evening. It was only on Friday afternoon that I could locate my number. It is a complete mess here.”

Another local self help group member said, “I am allotted a place, where I can’t even stand properly. I could place only half of my items on display. This is not done and now at the last minute, we have no option to go ahead with this.”

Panjim Mayor Uday Madkaikar said they received the Fire Department NOC at 5pm on Friday, while the Commissioner went for an inspection of the site at 6.30pm, before granting permission.

When contacted, Director of Art and Culture Gurudas Pilernkar refused to speak on the festival citing that he was busy.