PANAJI
The State government has constituted a 13-member task force committee, chaired by a theatre artist, to review the current status of infrastructure work at the Kala Academy. The committee will also provide recommendations for improvement and upgradation of the iconic structure, which has been mired in controversy since the renovation began.
This development comes ahead of the International Film Festival of India, scheduled in November when the premises will be used for film screenings, talk shows, exhibitions and other related events.
Chief Engineer of PWD Santosh Mhapne will serve as the Member Secretary of the committee which includes Tomazinho Cardozo, William Fernandes, Praveen Gaonkar, Satish Gawas, Devidas Amonkar (representative of Kala Rakhonn Mand), Francis Coelho (Kala Rakhonn Mand representative), a representative from the Charles Correia Foundation, the Chief Architect of the Goa government, the Member Secretary of Kala Academy and Mrunal Walke, General Manager of the Entertainment Society of Goa as its members. IAS officer and Education Secretary Prasad Lolayekar has been appointed as the nodal officer to facilitate coordination between the government and the committee.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, during the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly in August, had assured that a committee comprising artists will be constituted to provide suggestions and review the ongoing repair work at the Kala Academy.
The Opposition MLAs had raised questions over the quality of renovation work with the government also facing protests by a group of artists against the manner in which the works were executed by the concerned contractor.
Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai had then called for the formation of a House committee to investigate the issue and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas demanded a First Information Report against the contractor.
