‘Gaude ignored proposals of CCF to help KA conservation’

Panaji: A day after art and culture minister Govind Gaude claimed on the floor of the House that the Charles Correa Foundation (CCF) did not offer any “remedies or suggestions” to carry out repair work of Kala Academy, the CCF on Thursday said despite sending two proposals, Gaude and Kala Academy simply ignored it.
“I called the CCF and asked them for remedies and suggestions. I suggested that we build a roof to protect the building from water leakage. The CCF had objections to it because they did not want to compromise with the aesthetics and the acoustics. All they do is sit and issue statements instead of any work,” Gaude had told the House.
But CCF said despite their offer to work pro bono, the government did not respond to their proposals.
Situated on the banks of the Mandovi in Panaji, the Kala Academy is the state’s premier art and culture institution and was designed by renowned architect Charles Correa.
“To date, since the commencement of the work in May 2021, we are yet to receive an official communication from either the minister of art and culture or the Kala Academy to visit the premises and take stock of the situation.” CCF convener Tahir Noronha, told TOI.
The CCF said Kala Academy’s repair work is a conservation project and needs to be done in a scientific manner. “Considering the value of the building, a qualified conservation architect needed to have been appointed, and a comprehensive conservation management plan needed to have been prepared before any work commenced,” the foundation said.
Noronha said they had approached the National Centre for Safety of Heritage Structures, IIT-Madras and a joint proposal from CCF and IIT-Madras was submitted to the Kala Academy on February 20, 2020.
“But the proposal was ignored,” he said.
Noronha said once the structural repairs were completed, they came to know that architectural changes were mooted. “So, the CCF wrote another proposal on May 31, 2022, offering to come on board, pro-bono as there wasn't yet a qualified conservation architect on board for the works,” he said.
Copies of both the proposals are with TOI.
On Wednesday, replying to a question tabled by GFP president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai who alleged that Rs 56 crore was being spent without a tender, Gaude defended himself, and the government, by claiming that even Shah Jahan did not call for “quotations” before building the Taj Mahal in Agra.
“You may have visited the Taj Mahal in Agra that was built between 1632 and 1653. Have you ever wondered why the Taj Mahal looks beautiful and pristine till this date? It is because Shah Jahan did not invite quotations to carry out the works,” Gaude had told the House.