Group questions delay in repairs, calls for public disclosure of plans
Citizens for Democracy convenor Elvis Gomes speaks to the media on Friday.
MARGAO
The Citizens For Democracy (CFD) has demanded transparency in the repair work of Margao Ravindra Bhavan’s main auditorium, stating that no concrete work has commenced to date and asking for the time required to complete the work.
The Forum has also demanded transparency in the renovation work of the Margao Municipal heritage building, which will be undertaken by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) at a cost of Rs 14 crore.
Addressing the media, CFD Convenor Elvis Gomes said, “It has now been a month since Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, was locked down after the collapse of the false ceiling, as claimed by the Management. The stakeholders, including the artists and tiatrists, should know when repair work will start and when it will be completed. This is a public institution run with public funding. The citizens, including the stakeholders, have every right to know about the repair work and the completion time.”
He further added, “The government should know that the shutdown of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, will adversely impact the stakeholders who earn a living by staging shows in the main auditorium. What we are truly worried about is the lack of transparency by the government authorities.”
GFC member Pradip Naik said that the government or GSUDA should immediately place in the public domain the details of the renovation work to be carried out at the Margao heritage building. “We have been informed that the entire renovation project will cost the exchequer a whopping Rs 14 crore. I come from the construction sector and I can confidently say that we could build an entirely new structure for Rs 14 crore,” he said.
Pradip also demanded to know the fate of the PowerPoint presentation on the Master Plan for Margao 2041. “After citizens red-flagged the Master Plan during the presentation, the Mumbai-based consultant promised to hold ward-wise meetings to seek feedback on the development. Till date, however, we have not heard anything from the consultant or the government,” Pradip added.
