PANAJI
The Charles Correa Foundation has red-flagged the composition of the three-member panel conducting the Vigilance probe into the alleged corruption and irregularities of the contract for the renovation of the iconic Kala Academy which was issued by nomination, junking the tendering system.
“We are concerned that all 3 members appointed to the Committee to scrutinise the irregularities are currently government employees. This is not appropriate, especially since the renovation work is being personally supervised by a minister in the government,” the CCF said, adding that one of the members of the inquiry panel is from the GSIDC and was part of the controversial Kala Academy renovations in 2004, as Manager-Engineering.
“It has been established that the unscientific work done in 2004 has led to at least some of the major structural issues we see today. Appointing him to the Committee is a conflict of interest,” it said, and added that three experience engineers and/or architects from the private sector be appointed if a proper investigation is to be done.
The CCF said, experts in the field of restoration, government tendering procedures, estimating, and costing and/or in project management and people who will not fear retribution should be considered for appointment to the probe pannel.
“The Committee in its present form will not be objective and sincere in their critique of the work being carried out,” it said.
Meanwhile, the foundation said, the observations of the Bombay High Court judgement which states that [the building will] “only be repaired to preserve and up-keep the same”.
It also pointed out that the changes being made to the foyer, and in the main auditorium goes beyond the mandate of the High Court observation of preservation and upkeep.
“The foyer was designed in a simple and elegant manner with grey Shabad stone and white china mosaic tiles that befits this building. The flooring now has been changed, with nondescript gaudy splashes of coloured tiles around each column and other tacky finishes,” it said.
It also said that the design of the large, enclosed Dinanath Mangeshkar Auditorium was a remarkable collaboration of Charles Correa’s architectural style and Bolt, Beranek and Newman’s acoustic genius, with original murals by Mario Miranda -- truly unique, internationally significant and should be respected and maintained.
“While we appreciate the use of advances in acoustic technology since the building’s conception could be used to appropriately restore the building with the necessary improvements, there is absolutely no reason to make such drastic changes to the aesthetics of the space,” it said.
