PANJIM, OCT 31
Six years after its construction, jetty at Darya Sangam behind Kala academy is all set to get a revamping this time. Kala Academy has proposed the maintenance of this jetty, if state government is ready to foot the bill.
Member Secretary Pandurang Faldesai told Herald that they are waiting Government approval to the renovation proposal of around Rs 10.5 lakh. “The iron rods are corroded due to the saline water and other portions also require maintenance. We do accomplish its annual maintenance but this will be the first major maintenance of the jetty,” he said.
The steel jetty on piles with wooden flooring has been a hit among several B-town filmmakers, Hollywood, Tollywood and even advertisements for video-shootings.
The project of ‘Extension of temporary jetty near Kala Academy’ was carried out to an approximate cost of Rs two-crores in September 2004 under the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar for the purpose of the festival.
“Several films and advertisement have been shot here and it still gains attraction among filmmakers apart from locals and visitors buzzing here daily,” Faldesai said.
The Government, after the project completion, handed over the jetty to Kala Academy authorities for maintenance and use, only to release to the government for one-month in a year, free of charge.
Meanwhile, with IFFI 2010 fast approaching, the entire ground floor premise will be shut for operations between November 16 and December 3. The ground floor comprises of Dinanath Mangueskar hall, black box, preview room, art gallery, corridor, darya sangam, open space and the jetty.
Besides, a high level technical committee meeting has suggested Kala Academy for ‘remote masking’ that would give clarity and adjust a screen frame using remote in the auditorium, preview and jury rooms.
So also, the Mumbai-based painter P K Bhivankar who allured several with his realistic-type paintings on the walls of Kala Academy in the 80s, has been invited again to give it a touch-up in the Charles Correia designed premise.
