PANJIM, FEB 16
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that the convention centre planned next to Inox is a mini-centre and another convention centre can be built elsewhere.
Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Kamat said that the convention centre planned in the Inox courtyard is a part of IFFI infrastructure.
“It’s a small centre with around 2,000 sitting capacity. A bigger centre can come up elsewhere,” the chief minister said.
He added that the funds for the project would be sourced through Planning Commission, which in the past had recommended the convention centre for Goa.
“We will approach the Planning Commission for funds. There was already a proposal for a Convention Centre in Goa. It was supposed to be built near Goa University,” Kamat recalled.
He said that the convention centre near Inox is to make up for the infrastructural requirement for IFFI.
Kamat ruled out that traffic around Inox and Campal would be out of gear once the centre comes up. “This is a small project spread across 3,800 square metre. It will have two layer parking facility,” the chief minister said.
He said that sufficient care will be taken to ensure that parking is provided for the centre.
Making a pitch for the project, Kamat said that having all the facilities in close vicinity would help the people who come to see the films.
Kamat said that Union Information and Broadcasting Secretary Raghu Menon during his Goa visit on Tuesday went through the proposed project.
The chief minister said that I&B ministry officials have already started preparing for IFFI 2011 which is scheduled in November-December.
He said that there is a suggestion that the inaugural ceremony of IFFI should be shifted from Panjim to Margao where there is spacious state-government owned Ravindra Bhavan auditorium. Kamat stated that the sitting capacity of this auditorium is more and hence it could be a preferred facility to hold grand inaugural for the festival.
The chief minister said that the preparations for IFFI 2011 have begun well in advance to eliminate the last minute confusions that crop up.
“The team of I&B ministry had come to see and discuss the issues so that right in the beginning, all things are settled. If there is need for any discussions, that can happen right now,” Kamat stated.
