MARGAO
Tiatr lovers have good news in store for them as the show will go on at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, two days after the cultural institution had suspended staging of tiatrs at the auditorium till further orders, citing non-functioning air conditioning system.
A meeting between Ravindra Bhavan Member Secretary Agnelo Fernandes and a group of tiatr directors and producers on Thursday worked out an amicable solution, with the two sides resolving to keep the show going at the main auditorium.
After agitated tiatr producers and directors questioned the rationale behind suspending the shows at Ravindra Bhavan when tiatr has been staged at the main auditorium within one functioning air conditioner, Member Secretary Agnelo agreed to withdraw the notice to facilitate resumption of tiatr at the institution.
After the meeting, Fernandes told media that the notice suspending the staging of events, including tiatr at the main auditorium was issued as a matter of abundant caution since two of the AC chillers had been non-functioning.
He said since the tiatr directors and producers are willing to stage their shows with the prevailing AC cooling, it has been decided to resume events, including tiatr at the main auditorium. “We had issued the order suspending events to avoid inconvenience to the audience since of the three AC chillers, two were non-functioning. We were concerned that the audience would not accept watching tiatr sans cooling at the auditorium”, Agnelo said.
He added: “Since tiatr directors and producers have expressed their willingness to stage their shows with the prevailing situation, with only one chiller in running condition, tiatr will resume again. If required, we will make available six big stand fans inside the auditorium for the convenience of the audience”.
The Member secretary further pointed out that PWD has already issued the work order for the maintenance of the AC unit at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh. “The process had delayed to some extent because there were no takers for the project. At last, a single bidder had evinced interest in the maintenance, after which the PWD issued the work order”, Agnelo added.
Tiatr director and producer, Prince Jacob told media there was no occasion for Ravindra Bhavan to suspend tiatrs at the main auditorium since shows were staged with just one chiller for a long time now. “We had staged two shows of Roseferns recently.
In a worst scenario, we will seek cooperation of tiatr fans, who have supported tiatr and will continue to do so, to bear the inconvenience for the sake of tiatr and Konkani language”, he said, while thanking Member Secretary for his initiative to ensure the show goes on at Ravindra Bhavan.
