PANAJI
Admitting to structural lapses in the recently renovated Kala Academy, the Goa government has ordered fresh repairs to the iconic cultural complex.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the contractor responsible for the recently renovated Kala Academy has been asked to carry out all rectification works with no cost to the government. He also warned that the firm would be blacklisted and its contract terminated once the repairs are complete.
“All works have been asked to be rectified, including those related to the sound and light systems, by the same contractor. As per the tendering process, he has to carry out the repairs free of cost. For works not mentioned in the tender, there will be a separate tender,” CM said.
He added that further work within the four years will be terminated and the contractor blacklisted. “But before that, he must complete the rectification,” he added.
Sawant’s statement comes after the report submitted by the government-appointed task force last week raised serious concerns over the structural integrity and technical quality of the Kala Academy’s Rs 60-crore renovation, carried out between 2021 and 2023.
The committee concluded that the renovation expenditure has been rendered futile due to glaring technical and structural shortcomings, and recommended an urgent structural audit of the entire Kala Academy.
The PWD, which has directed the executive engineers to carry out repairs, has also decided to conduct a detailed investigation to determine whether the deficiencies identified by the expert committee were already covered in the original tender.
Theatre personality Vijay Kenkre-headed committee found multiple flaws in the renovation, which was carried out under the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation.
The findings suggested systemic mismanagement, pointing at defects from acoustic failings and poor air-conditioning to substandard lighting and a compromised theatre structure.
