PANJIM: Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude is likely to receive the structural audit report of the Kala Academy on Tuesday, based on which the government would decide the fate of the open-air auditorium. The minister confirmed the news to Herald when contacted on the details of the study.
The structural audit was initially carried out by the Goa Engineering College (GEC) that only suggested strengthening the structure after which the government proposed another audit by the GSIDC and thereafter a special consultant was appointed for the purpose.
After a major hullabaloo over the proposed demolition of the structure, Gaude has been repeatedly clarifying that he never said Kala Academy would be demolished.
“It has been just presumed and predicted… Like many others, even I have performed here and look at it sympathetically. Nobody should be misguided or panicked that Kala Academy would be demolished,” he was quoted as saying while replying to apprehensions raised during the Monsoon Session of the Legislative Assembly.
Asking the people not to panic, the Minister for Art and Culture said all stakeholders including environmentalists, journalists and others will be taken on board before taking any decision on the iconic structure.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa that has taken suo motu cognisance of reports in a national daily, has sought reply from the government. When the matter came up for further hearing on Monday the government again sought time to file its reply after which the bench adjourned the matter to September 30.
