Kala Academy, the high seat of Goa’s cultural heritage, is facing another closure, this time to undertake corrective repairs from August 1. Lest we forget, the inspection conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras identified 18 major defects in the renovated structure, completely stripping away confidence in the work.
Unfortunately, the Kala Academy has seen a history of failures. In July 2023, the roof of the open-air auditorium caved in; in July 2025, a portion of the false ceiling in the music classrooms caved in. Experts have cited major flaws in renovation, and for the past five years, the state has engaged in a cyclical routine of closing the complex, spending crores of public money, ignoring warnings, witnessing structural failures, and then shifting blame. This is not just a story of work failure; it is a story of administrative apathy and systemic greed, and the announcement that the iconic cultural hub will shut its doors yet again after a staggering Rs 56 crore renovation reads like a farce.
When Task Force members openly admit that nearly 80% of the renovation expenditure was wasted on cosmetic enhancements while critical structural requirements like waterproofing were actively ignored, they expose a deep-seated rot in our public works culture. Superficial aesthetics were prioritised over fundamental safety, turning a temple of art into a hazard of rusted reinforcements and decaying concrete. It is obvious that the contractor failed to understand the aesthetic charm of the structure and the heritage value it carries.
Designed by the legendary Charles Correa, Kala Academy was built to harmoniously blend with the vibe of the Mandovi River, using low-slung structures and earthy tones that mirror Goa’s traditional tambdi mati (red mud). It was meticulously curated and featured legendary acoustics by Bolt Beranek and Newman and priceless, hand-painted murals by Mario Miranda.
By moving away from the original lighting, acoustics, and colour palette, the State tampered with its architectural heritage. The irony is that while the changes were visible to the naked eye, the government accepted what was presented under the guise of a “world-class structure”. For the artistes and various experts who cried hoarse over shortcomings, failures and shoddy work a dozen times, this is a devastating betrayal of trust. It sounded like a joke when the Charles Correa masterpiece was labelled as a “faulty design” to cover up the botched renovation.
If public infrastructure is to command public trust, accountability cannot end with a mere repair job time and again. More than Rs 50 crore of taxpayers' money has reportedly been spent on work that IIT Madras has now effectively found to be structurally deficient. The State government must ensure that the money is accounted for by contractors, officials, the department and even the minister. Those who approved payments despite glaring deficiencies need to be taken to task. Merely going ahead with another repair would literally mean asking the public to bear the cost of negligence and mismanagement.
Kala Academy is Goa's most cherished cultural landmark, a space woven into the state's artistic identity and collective memory. Allowing it to remain trapped in a cycle of deterioration, questionable repairs and recurring controversies does a disservice not only to the institution itself but also to the generations of artistes and audiences it was created to serve.
