Team Herald
PANJIM: The Panjim Carnival Organizing Committee has decided to ban float vehicles driven by unlicensed drivers and without a vehicle fitness certificate, they will also award all participants participation certificates.
In a meeting held on Thursday, committee chief Deepak Desai instructed the participants to adhere to all the rules and regulations including maintaining discipline.
“The committee members, including RTO officials, will check for drivers’ licence and float-loaded vehicles’ fitness certificate before the commencement of the parade. No modified vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act will be allowed,” he told Herald after emerging from the meeting of the organizers and participants.
The instructions come after an embarrassing incident last year when a float vehicle broke down during the parade. The committee, Desai said, will also ensure that junk vehicles are not part of the parade.
Messages on vehicles will also be screened before the parade begins in the capital on Saturday. “We have instructed participants to be disciplined and maintain decency. The committee won’t tolerate any violation or indiscipline. The sanctity of Carnival, tradition and culture has to be maintained,” he added.
On request from the participants, the committee has agreed to award participation certificate to all irrespective of who is the ultimate winner of the 4-day extravaganza.
There are 51 floats registered for the parade while late entries are allowed with a fine, Desai said. A five-member team is selected to decide the winners at the end of the festivity.
