Colvyn Harris, the soft-spoken chairman of India's advertising carnival, Goafest, is also CEO of JWT, one of India's biggest ad agencies. Despite the challenge he's facing in making sure the fest happens on time — and on its usual scale — Arcopol Chaudhuri finds him calm and composed while scepticism bubbles about the delegate turnout. Excerpts:

It is understood you're having a hard time finding sponsors for Goafest this year...

Panaji, Feb 24 : The Government of Goa has given fifteen days notice to casino vessels operating on the Mandovi river to shift further down the Arabian Sea.

"They will not be allowed to anchor on River Mandovi. They can come ashore for refueling and go," said State Chief Minister Digamber Kamat after a cabinet meeting here on Tuesday.

Kamat said these casinos were revenue earners for the State Government.

"We charge them Rs 5 crore as licencing fee. They also pay various other taxes," he said.

Panaji, Feb 22 (ANI): The annual Goa Carnival began with apex of excitement and frolic at Panaji.

Incidentally, this traditional and historical event is observed just prior to the commencement of Lent period of 40 days of austere lifestyle.

A hallmark of the much-awaited three-day festival was the parading of colourful tableaux depicting the cultural heritage of Goa and the influence of Portuguese. It was a colony of Portugal for over two centuries until 1961.

Panaji, Feb 12: A two-day National Conference on e-Governance will begin in Goa today.

The conference is being organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in association with the Department of Information Technology and the Government of Goa.

Senior Officers from the Government, industry, academicians, technical experts and NGOs will participate in the event.

New Delhi, Feb 11 : A two-day National Conference on e-Governance will begin in Goa tomorrow.

The conference is being organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in association with the Department of Information Technology and the Government of Goa.

Senior Officers from the Government, industry, academicians, technical experts and NGOs will participate in the event.

Panaji (Goa), Jan 26, : Agnelo Fernandes, Goa's Congress legislator, was arrested on Monday along with 200 other supporters for taking out a march demanding the removal of a grounded cango ship.

The cargo ship had run aground in north Goa's candolim shore in June 2000.

River Princess Hatao Manch, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has been agitating in the state demanding removal of the ship, which could cause ecological disaster due to high erosion of sand.