Artiste threaten hunger strike over Kala Mandir
Say lakhs of rupees have been spent on diesel
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
Former vice-chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir Ponda (RGKM) Milind Mhadgut has demanded to make public the expenditure incurred on re-opening the Kala Mandir and the programmes organised thereafter.
Addressing a news conference in Ponda on Tuesday, Mhadgut, who is president of Film Makers Association, said RGKM will be replica of Sub District Hospital in terms of infrastructure, as Kala Mandir has still not got an electricity connection.
“There is dearth of facilities in Sub District Hospital and also no doctors. Same thing is happening in Kala Mandir as there are no facilities though it is reopened,” Mhadgut said.
Shyam Tari, Ajeet Prabhugaonkar and Shiv Sena leader Ghanshyam Naik, who were present on the occasion, have served an ultimatum to go on a hunger strike, if the government fails to provide electricity connection to the RGKM.
Speaking further, Mhadgut said Kala Mandir was reopened without the electricity connection and generators were used to organise programmes. “To organise cultural programme for 20 days, they must have spent lakhs of rupees on diesel for the generators. Why are they wasting tax payers money?” Mhadgut questioned.
According to Mhadgut, the departments and officials concerned had announced that ‘arena theater’ will be constructed in the RGKM, but they failed to accomplish the concept.
He said seating arrangement in the auditorium is not proper and there is no provision from the backstage to take stuff on the stage. “Artistes will have to carry their instruments and other things through the auditorium itself. There is no proper management,” he added.
Mhadgut said RGKM chairman and Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar should have reopened the structure with responsibility.
