NT NETWORK
Panaji
Stating that the amount of money being spent on the “repairs of Kala Academy complex” as well as the agency appointed to do so are fully justified, the Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude on Wednesday said that the appointed agency has agreed to carry out the maintenance of the repaired premises of Kala Academy for a period of five years, and furthermore given a 25-year guarantee on these repairs, assuring to mend all the faults, which may develop in the complex during next quarter of a century.
An estimated amount of Rs 40 crore is being spent on the repairs of the premier art and culture complex in the state, which includes its structural strengthening and renovation, with the Mumbai-based agency namely M/s Techton Buildcon Pvt Ltd being entrusted with the work.
Gaude, speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ said that the entire repair work would be completed within next 10 months, and the facade of Kala Academy as well as its character would not undergo any change.
“The state cabinet has given a nod for the appointment of a special agency on emergency basis to execute this work, due to the urgency involved in the same,” the Minister for Art and Culture added, informing that the appointed special agency had in the past, been entrusted with the work of repairing the Mumbai-based Goa Bhavan. “This special agency has good experience in carrying out major repair works and has been selected on merit,” he noted.
Speaking further, Gaude stated that no musical instruments from the department of western music or the faculty of Indian music and dance, at the Kala Academy were damaged due to rainwater or cyclone Tauktae. “All these musical instruments and other items collectively costing no more than Rs 27 lakh are safe and have been presently kept in a shed constructed near the Kala Academy complex,” he added, informing that after the completion of the repair work of Kala Academy, the particular shed would be used as a carpentry workshop for Kala Academy’s School of Drama.
Gaude, who is also the chairman of Kala Academy said that Academy’s office and theatre classes have been already shifted to the Old Secretariat building on temporary basis, while its cultural programmes and other events would be organised at Rajiv Kala Mandir, at Ponda and Ravindra Bhavans.
Replying to a question, the Minister for Art and Culture stated that previously the state government had spent around Rs 90 crore on the repairs and renovation of Kala Academy, however, the condition of the complex is still deteriorating. “Today, I want to repair this building and ensure that the leakage of water from the roof as well as seeping of water from the ground, during the monsoons is totally stopped,” he said.
Gaude also recalled that the government had floated tenders for repairs of Kala Academy at least on three occasions in the recent past, with no success.
“We also interacted with the Charles Correa Foundation as regards repairs of this art and culture complex, but it only came out with suggestions and no concrete solutions,” he maintained, pointing out that the matter finally went before the High Court and the court asked the government to start the repair work after taking all the stakeholders into confidence.