From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network - Goa - File pic by Dayanand Kukkaje

Margao, Feb 21: Goan Melody queen Lorna will not perform at this year's Margao Carnival festivities.

The day when the carnival committee was formed, it was planned to invite Lorna to perform for the festival. But art and culture minister and a local MLA Digamber Kamat had opined that if Lorna performed at Anafonte Spring Garden, which is newly constructed in the heart of city, it could cause damage to landscaping with a large number of her fans thronging at the event. "It if for this reason that we have decided not to hold her programme," said Margao municipal chairperson Piedade Noronha, while addressing presspersons.

Other stalwarts of Konkani stage will perform at the carnival to give people a real mood of Carnival at Anafonte spring Garden, she added.

But some of the members of Carnival committee have expressed shock at Kamat's decision not to hold Lorna’s programme, as recently the International fame singer Hema Sardessai had performed at the same venue with thousands turning out.

If a huge crowd is thought to damage the landscaping, then how Hema was allowed to perform, the committee queries.