PANAJI
The Task Force Committee, constituted in September 2024 to review the status of infrastructure work at the Kala Academy, has now sought a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to present recommendations since its preliminary report has not yet been acted upon.
Expressing disappointment over the alleged lack of responsiveness from the concerned departments including Art and Culture, the Task Force, headed by theatre artist Vijay Kenkre, called for the urgent need to address technical and structural issues with the structure.
Speaking to the media after a third meeting with government officials on Saturday, Kenkre stated that CM must be apprised of the situation for further action.
"We analyzed the issues in detail. The construction, sound systems and lighting need to be rectified. We urgently need a meeting with the CM. We already submitted our preliminary report but no action has been taken, hence, we are requesting this meeting,” he said.
Kenkre also criticized the outcome of the recent renovations, stating that the structure is no longer what it was before. He highlighted that no attention has been given to the open-air auditorium -- also an integral part of the Kala Academy “ despite its ceiling’s collapse during the monsoon in July 2023.
"There are problems with the Kala Academy that must be rectified. We also need local theatre groups to support the committee. They should perform at the venue and provide their feedback," he added. The committee has further demanded a structural audit by experts from IIT Chennai.
"We had our consultants and experts work diligently on inspections and prepare a report. However, there has been no progress on our suggestions. For this reason, we want to meet the CM," another member of the task force stated.
Kenkre added that the prevailing problems with the renovated Kala Academy are because the government did not hire a consultant for the works.
