PONDA
Accusing the BJP government of deliberately delaying work at the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, former chief minister Ravi Naik appealed to the government to stick to its word of inaugurating it on February 28.
Referring to the inauguration date announced by his rival and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, on Republic Day, Naik said the government had earlier announced many dates, but failed to inaugurate it on those dates.
“The inauguration should be done at least on this date (28 February). The government should not force the people to take to the streets if they fail again,” Naik said, during a visit to the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir on Wednesday.
He said the people from Ponda taluka are deprived of entertainment programmes, which used to be organised in Kala Mandir.
“The Congress government had commenced the renovation process and partly constructed the new building in 2007. Subsequently, the work started, but this government failed to carry on with the same pace,” Naik alleged.
“Such a situation would not have happened if the Congress government was ruling the State. The BJP is only wasting public money by delaying the project. Hence, the cost of the original project goes up when it is further delayed,” he said.
According to Naik, the estimated cost of the project must have crossed the limits and has now reached about Rs 40 crore.
“I request the Chief Minister, Art and Culture Minister and GSIDC to inaugurate the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir at the earliest. If they have not released money of the contractors, then they should do so and get the work completed,” Naik suggested.
It may be recalled that Dhavalikar and GSIDC officials had annoucned different dates to inaugurate it, but failed every time as work on the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir was not completed.
Now, Dhavalikar has announced that the Mandir would be inaugurated on February 28.
