Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after O Heraldo reported that Kala Academy is slated to shut down again for two months for ‘rectification’ work, there was all-round criticism for the delay in finishing the upgrade of the State’s premier art and culture address.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant responded to the criticism on Friday, saying that the current contractor will complete the rectification work at no additional cost as per the recommendations of the Kala Academy Task Force and complete it by October.
“As per the Committee’s suggestion, the contractor will fix all issues from past tenders free of cost by October. Once that is done, the contract will be terminated and the contractor will be blacklisted,” Sawant said, adding that new tenders will be floated for additional works not covered in the original contract.
However, the announcement has only intensified political backlash and public frustration over what is widely seen as a case of bureaucratic inefficiency and poor accountability.
The Goa Forward Party (GFP), which has repeatedly raised concerns over the quality and pace of the Kala Academy project, responded with a scathing statement. “Chief Minister Dr Pramod P Sawant’s statement today acknowledging the termination and blacklisting of the contractor vindicates our relentless fight for accountability. But this admission raises even more questions,” the
party said.
“Why was a contractor with such poor work ethics selected in the first place? What about the officials and decision-makers who approved these tenders? Who will ensure taxpayers aren’t further burdened by such blatant mismanagement?” GFP asked, calling for a thorough investigation into the entire tendering and execution process.
“The Kala Academy, a cultural icon of Goa, deserves better than this cycle of negligence and corruption,” the statement added, warning that this was not an isolated incident but indicative of a systemic governance failure.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, Francis Coelho of the Kala Rakhan Mand expressed doubts over the CM’s assurance. “What the Chief Minister said today is confusing. Why will a contractor carry out proper work if he knows he will be blacklisted? We are not convinced,” Coelho said.
He revealed that three reports have already been submitted by the group, demanding audits and restoration of Kala Academy to its original standards. “We will submit our next report to the Chief Minister and hope for clarity. We are encouraged by the assurance that the Task Force will remain involved until the work is completed to its satisfaction,” Coelho added.
Coelho also demanded a forensic audit of the open-air auditorium that collapsed in 2023, further underscoring concerns over the integrity of the ongoing renovation work.