60-day deadline set as repair and renovation works begin at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao
MARGAO
Tiatr enthusiasts can now look forward to the resumption of tiatr shows at the Pai Tiatrist Hall around mid-October, as the long-awaited repair and renovation work has finally commenced at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
The contractor has been given a strict deadline of 60 days to complete the work.
To ensure smooth execution and to maintain the highest standards that meet the expectations of theatre artistes and audiences alike, the General Council of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao has constituted a Supervising Committee. The committee will be chaired by noted film and theatre artiste Vijay Kenkre, who also heads the Task Force. The panel includes Prashant Varadkar, an acoustic consultant, and Rajan Bhise, an architect and Task Force member, along with officials from the Public Works Department (PWD).
Addressing the media, Chairman Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, Rajendra Talak said work on the Pai Tiatrist Auditorium, Black Box and Annexe Building has already begun. He said this could happen because of the initiative by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat with full support extended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “Their instructions helped to finalise the tender process and start the work immediately. The period of completion of work is 60 days,” he said.
Talak said the supervisory panel will ensure the early completion of the work considering all the aspect of theatre, Black Box as well as Annexe Building. “The panel will submit report of the ongoing work every 15 days,” he said.
He added: “We at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao are very much concerned about the speedy completion of work and commencement of Pai Tiatrist auditorium as well as Black Box at the earliest. We understand the problem faced by the artistes, producers, directors as well as art lovers for the non-operation of the above facilities at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. We thank them for their co-operation till today and assure them the opening of the above premises very shortly.”
Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat for taking this matter on priority basis and completing the formalities immediately, Talak took a dig at those who were critical of the Ravindra Bhavan.
Referring to the statement made by bureaucrat-turned-politician, Elvis Gomes on Ravindra Bhavan, Talak said that Gomes was a bureaucrat and is aware of the functioning of the administration. “If he was really interested in Ravindra Bhavan, he should have met me and got his grievances redressed. I am available at the Ravindra Bhavan,” he said.
He said the PWD will take up the work of repairs to the false ceiling at the Pai Tiatrist auditorium, besides carry out repairs to chairs, replace the damaged carpets, repair the stairs illumination and the main and side curtains.
Meanwhile, Talak said the General Council of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao has decided to celebrate the Birth Centenary of well-known and renowned Cinematographer K Vaikunth (Vaikunth Kuncolienkar) from Comba.
He said Ravindra Bhavan, Margao has also decided to celebrate the Birth centenaries of renowned musician and composer Antony Gonsalves (Majorda), film editor Bhanudas Divkar (Comba, Margao), painter Laximan Pai from Margao, cartoonist Mario Miranda (Loutolim).