THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
Upset over yet another delay by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) in completing the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir at Ponda, Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said the many delays in the project has been a major embarrassment.
“The inauguration date, which was scheduled on April 2, has been postponed yet again. We have had to face the wrath of people because of GSIDC. I will not have much interest in the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, if it is not inaugurated by April,” said Mandrekar, while speaking to The Goan.
Mandrekar said they had also convened a meeting with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to discuss the pending works by GSIDC and the chief minister had told them to complete it.
“Still, their work has been going on at snail’s pace,” said Mandrekar.
Asked to explain the delay in the work that had led to the postponement of the inauguration, Mandrekar said: “The electricity connection is still not obtained by the GSIDC. They are telling us to inaugurate the Kala Mandir with generators. Is it possible to organise programmes for 19 days using generators?”
“We will invite even more anger from the public if programmes get interrupted due to technical snags,” said Mandrekar.
When asked if the inauguration would take place in May, Mandrekar was quick to reply that GSIDC has been asked to complete work by April end.
“We want the inauguration in April itself. Let them complete the work of electricity connection. The remaining work can be done side by side,” he added.
“We have been left embarrassed over this issue and I will have no interest in the inauguration, if it does not take place in April,” the minister said.
Taking a dig at the GSIDC, Mandrekar added: “They (GSIDC) have similar stories everywhere. They even failed to complete the Ravindra Bhavan at Verna at the scheduled time. I have visited the site there on many occasions, but there has been no progress.”
“Had it been completed, the burden on the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina would have reduced and members of the Tiatr Academy could have been encouraged to organise their programmes at Verna,” Mandrekar said.
Sources informed The Goan that the electricity department is ready to provide the power supply, but said the GSIDC has reportedly delayed the process.
Sharing the exasperation of Mandrekar, Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar said, “If the GSIDC wants, it can easily pay the money and obtain the electricity connection. I have tried my best to inaugurate the Rajiv Kala Mandir at the earliest, but I am not getting support from authorities concerned.”
Meanwhile, Director of Art and Culture Prasad Lolyekar took stock of the work at the Rajiv Kala Mandir on Monday and ordered the contractors concerned to complete work at the earliest. He identified many errors to the contractor and asked him to rectify them.
