MARGAO
Every time Art and Culture Govind Gaude is questioned over the delay in restarting the canteen at the Ravindra Bhavan Margao, do not be surprised to hear the same old reply that the canteen facility will be restored at the earliest.
Otherwise, consider this. On November 6, 2022, when the Minister was quizzed by scribes that the canteen facility has remained shut for months, Gaude promised to complete the tendering process by November-end. He went on to say that the Art and Culture department has resolved to rope in Self Help Groups to run the canteen to provide better facilities to the visiting public.
As the canteen continues to remain shut to date, the Minister was asked the same old query by the scribes on Monday. And, apt came a reply that the department has already floated a tender and the process will be taken to the logical conclusion at the earliest.
The Minister has vowed to restart the canteen facility. “As far as the Ravindra Bhavan canteen is concerned, the department had floated a tender. The process will be taken to the logical conclusion at the earliest.”
Sadly, the canteen facility at the Ravindra Bhavan Margao, which is considered the Mecca of tiatr, has not restarted to date.
Inquiries by The Goan revealed that the tendering process was set in motion by the Art and Culture department in September 2022 many months after the canteen had remained shut. It has been further revealed that around two parties had participated in the tender and their bids were scrutinized. Sadly, before the successful bid could be shortlisted and the work order issued, the tendering process was called off for reasons best known to the Director of Art and Culture.
Since then, the canteen has remained shut, forcing the visitors to either carry their eatables or look out for makeshift canteen arrangements by private players.
The Goan now understands that Ravindra Bhavan Margao has now forwarded the file to the Art and Culture Director with a plea on how to go about the matter. Questions are being raised whether the Art and Culture department will pursue the tender floated in September or will invite bids from prospective bidders afresh. Questions are further raised about whether the validity of the old tender has lapsed or can be revived again in the event the present dispensation is in favour of taking the tender to a logical conclusion.
Appointment of chairman, governing council falls in CM's domain: Gaude
MARGAO:
If Ravindra Bhavan Margao canteen remains shuts for several months now, the premier cultural institution is still not headed by a Chairman to date nor has the government constituted the governing council to date.
And, every time the Art and Culture Minister is questioned over the delay in constituting the governing council, Govind Gaude comes up with the same old reply that the decision to appoint the Chairman and the governing council falls in the domain of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
When the Minister was questioned again on Monday on the fact that the Ravindra Bhavan has no chairman nor the governing council, he shot back: “This matter comes under the purview of the Chief Minister. I have already moved the file to the Chief Minister for necessary action.”
In the absence of the Chairman and the governing council, Ravindra Bhavan Member Secretary Agnelo Fernandes is being left with no option but to forward the files for decision and action to the Art and Culture Secretary. “Since there is no chairman to sign the official files, the same is forwarded to the Art and Culture Secretary for necessary action,” sources said.
