PANJIM: The shoddy works of the recently renovated Kala Academy, which got exposed, have finally prompted Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to direct the Public Works Department (PWD) to carry out an inspection of Goa’s premier arts and culture institution and submit an audit report.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister also said that he has directed the Principal Chief Engineer of the PWD to take all precautionary measures while carrying out Kala Academy works.
“The PWD is to submit audit report. However, it has been instructed to maintain all precautions while executing works at Kala Academy. Have instructed the Principal Chief Engineer to see that no untoward incidents take place,” he said.
It may be recalled that the State government faced criticism from the opposition parties and artistes for allegedly carrying out renovation work at Kala Academy at a cost of Rs 49 crore without floating a tender, which was against the CPWD manual. It took almost three years to finish the renovation work.
However, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude had defended the government’s decision to nominate a contractor for the renovation work without floating a tender claiming that even Shah Jahan did not invite quotations for building the Taj Mahal.
The shoddy works of the recently renovated Kala Academy, Goa’s premier arts and culture institution, once again got exposed, as the auditorium started leaking following heavy downpour on May 19, 2024. Following the leakage, tiartr lovers watching a Konkani tiatr ‘Girgirem’ had to change their seats since few seats were available in the auditorium.
It had not been even a month when part of the newly renovated false ceiling of the Kala Academy built on the ‘Shahjahan model’ came crashing down. However, Gaude had claimed that several letters were sent to the Public Works Department (PWD) asking it to give a structural stability report.
He had claimed that the PWD was carrying out the renovation works and was yet to hand over the Kala Academy building to the Directorate of Art and Culture.
After remaining closed for over two years on account of renovation works, Kala Academy was finally thrown open to the public in November last year by the State government.
