PANAJI
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is struggling to move forward in their quest to take back possession of the iconic 'Cine National' property from the lease-holder -- M/s Rao and Company -- despite a recent favourable order from the Bombay High Court.
The CCP, which plans to erect a commercial building after pulling down the 1975 edifice it had sealed in March declaring it unsafe and dangerous, is struggling to make its next move after the Bombay High Court at Goa in July dismissed the petition filed by M/s Rao and Company challenging the civic body's move to take back possession.
The land where the Rao's as lease-holders built and operated the iconic movie theatre for over seven decades since the 1930s, is owned by the CCP.
A top CCP official said, advice from the government is now awaited on the next step it needs to take in its nearly decade old proceeding to take back possession of the property from the Rao's.
Cine National, is Goa's first motion picture theatre established by the Rao's in early 1930s after the Portuguese government leased the property to them for the specific purpose of setting up the theatre.
Post liberation, a second lease agreement was executed by the Panjim Municipal Council and the Rao's when the old building was demolished and the current dilapidated edifice was built.
The 30-year lease agreement had expired in 2005 and the civic body which was elevated to a Corporation initiated the current proceeding to take back possession of the property in 2010.
In March this year, the CCP sealed the edifice on orders of the Commissioner Clen Madeira, who cited the structure's dilapidated condition and the danger it posed to the general public.
A parallel negotiation with the Rao's for an amicable settlement was initiated by the CCP but has made no tangible progress.
The Corporation plans to demolish the structure and put up a commercial building on the property encompassing a multi-level parking facility, a town hall, and commercial offices.
