VALPOI
At a time when the Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) faces a financial crunch, it has now come to light that the theatre contractor has gone missing and reportedly owes the VMC a whopping Rs 87 lakh.
The theatre had been set up in Valpoi following frequent complaints that there are no cinemas in the town.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane took the initiative to set up a theatre in Valpoi on the second floor of the building in front of the VMC administrative office and the contract to run the theatre had been given to a party from Delhi.
The theatre functioned for about eight months, much to the happiness of people in and around Valpoi. The theatre was, however, closed during the Covid pandemic.
With the reopening of business and institutions, people had also expected the theatre to reopen but that did not happen.
In the meanwhile, the VMC made attempts to contact the contractor to clear the rent of Rs 87 lakh, but the contractor could not be traced. The VMC even issued a notice to the contractor at the last-known address, but the notice was returned to the VMC.
According to sources, the VMC had spent considerable amounts of money to set up the theatre and it has not been used for any other purpose.
“The VMC can hire out the theatre for various programmes and this can earn revenue to the municipal council,” said a source.
When contacted, VMC chairperson Sehzeen Shaikh said various attempts were made to contact the contractor.
“Correspondences were sent to the address of the contractor and attempts were even made to contact him by email, but he has not been contactable as yet,” said Shaikh.
