PANAJI
Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude has raised concerns about the expertise of the Task Force Committee after a series of complaints about the quality of work at Kala Academy.
Gaude questioned the basis of the Committee’s feedback as it was being leaked to the media even before the submission of their report to the government.
“The statement made by the Task Force Committee Chairman is immature. I have doubts about the committee’s expertise. How can they comment before submitting the report to the government,” Gaude questioned, speaking to The Goan on Wednesday, quickly adding it would be premature to comment on the committee until they submit the report to the government.
The Committee has pointed at poor quality of works carried out during the renovation with its Chairman Vijai Kenkre giving a ‘fail’ remark.
The prime executing agency, Public Works Department is incidentally under scrutiny as its contractors and other related agencies assisting the works have been summoned for an inspection from November 10-12.
Government sources revealed to The Goan that the Committee might have overlooked the fact that repair works at Kala Academy have been ongoing since 2004. Moreover, since the academy’s reopening nine months ago, several events have been held without any complaints from organizers.
“The management has not received a single complaint in the last nine months. Events are running smoothly,” the source stated.
The official also elaborated on the issues flagged by the Task Force including sound and leakage problems, which were rectified and account for only 10 percent of the total project cost.
“How can they claim the work is substandard? They are neither structural experts nor civil design consultants. Also, the inspection is not complete and experts are called which explains the Committee is speaking what is fed to them,” the official added.
