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http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=16170&n_tit=Goa%3A+Int'l+Film+Festival+of+India+2005+News+-+from+Special+Correspondent
News -- Goa: Int'l Film Festival of India 2005 News - from Special Correspondent from Daijiworld News Network's special correspondent in Panaji November 13, 2005 Panaji is dressing up to host annual International film festival of India (IFFI). Panaji: The chipped tiles, dirty walls, pot-hole ridden roads and broken street lights are getting the attention of authorities. All work would be completed by next week, stated Sanjit Rodrigues, chief executive officer, Goa Entertainment society. The local government agencies � public works department, Goa state infrastructure development corporation (GSIDC) � along with City of corporation of Panaji (CCP) are on their toes executing various works. The infrastructure, which was put in place last year hosting first IFFI in Goa, faced neglect for almost a year which marked Goa�s political scene getting new chief minister. The mud-slinging by political parties and warning to investigate into the affairs of infrastructure constructions kept the maintenance work on back burner. "All maintenance would be completed in time. Everyone is working towards it,�� stated Rodrigues. The main Dayanand Bandodkar marg, named after Goa�s first chief minister, would be the centre of activities. IFFI venues � Kala Academy and INOX multiplex � dot this road. The organizers are planning for animated street on this road as a part of their fringe activities. Besides this, screening of films at Colva, Calangute, Candolim, Baina, Mapusa and Caranzalem, observance of �Goa Music Day� with Goan musicians performing at 101 places across the state, �Namaste India�, a concert featuring top Indian musicians, are some of the highlights of cultural activities which have planned to mark the 36th International Film Festival of India, beginning in the city on November 24. The main attraction for the festival would be 'pani projection,� an illumination of Panaji�s Mary Immaculate conception church which will give fabulous look to this century-old church. In a bid to spread IFFI atmosphere across the state, several cultural programmes have been organised at different places in Goa, which also include �Fontainhas Festival�. Victoria Fernandes' threat Panaji: Goa�s deputy speaker Victoria Fernandes has threatened to disrup the International film festival of India (IIFI), if her demand to scrap ordinance amending town and country planning act is not met by then. "How can state government enjoy music and dance while people are on the street? We will stop the IFFI,�� said Fernandes. She is currently leading an agitation against an ordinance promulgated by her own government which gives unrestricted powers to planning and development authorities. This, according to her, would let politicians and builders convert Goa�s green belt into concrete jungles. Fernandes� supporters have initiated a 'jail bharo andolan' in the state. The Non government organizations (NGOs) too have extended their support to the agitation. The state government should scrap the ordinance before IFFI, she said. The town and country planning minister Atanasio Monserratte, who is supposed to be a brain behind this ordinance, had recently tried to pacify Fernandes stating that "The final decision on the amendment would be taken only after discussing the issue in the state cabinet.�� But this failed to pacify Fernandes who has termed Moserratte�s statement as "eyewash.�� Fernandes, addressing a press conference on Saturday, said that people had come on the street demanding that the ordinance be scrapped but still government is not paying heed to the agitation. "We will initiate more stronger moment, if state government fails to respect our views,�� she said. Meanwhile, reacting to the press statement of the Government and the town and country planning Minister that a decision has been taken to keep the implementation of the TCP Ordinance 2005 in abeyance till the next Assembly session, the Goa Action Group comprising NGOs and citizens from Goa has decided to take the battle to its logical conclusion. The issue to keep the Ordinance in abeyance and replace it by a Bill to be placed before the Assembly is not at all acceptable to the Group who demand that the Ordinance be scrapped in toto. The Goa Action Group apprehends from the tone and tenor of the statement made by the TCP Minister that the entire game plan is to see that the movement against the Ordinance fizzles out and the IFFI 2005 goes on smoothly. The Goa Action Group has decided to continue the agitation with full fervour and shall not fall prey to the evil machinations of the Government, says a press note released here. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
