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PANJIM: The Kala Academy building situated at Campal-Panjim will be renovated at a cost of Rs 50 crore, informed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant
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Speaking to reporters in the presence of Art and Culture Minister Govind Gawade, Sawant said that Cabinet approved a proposal for structural repairs and renovation of the building. The renovation works will include water proofing, civil works and electrical works.
The Chief Minister made it clear that the building will not be demolished. There will be no exterior changes in the building and that the facade will be retained.
Gawade said that the Kala Academy building built nearly 50 years ago needs major repairing to strengthen the existing structure. Also the originality of the Black Box will be retained, he added.
The new works will include two auditoriums having 600 and 300 seating capacity considering its commercial point of view, Gawade said adding that the foundation stone for these new works will be laid on April 2.
“The government has also appointed a special consultant and the works would be completed within a year even as efforts are on to complete the renovation works by January next year,” he said.
Gawade further informed that the Kala Academy office and theatre classes would be temporarily shifted in the Adil Shah Palace, Panaji while, all other cultural programmes and events would be shifted to Rajiv Kala Mandir, Ponda and at other places.
The Kala Academy, a prominent cultural centre was designed by renowned architect late Charles Correa and was started in February 1970.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal for purchase of solar and non-solar power for fulfilment of solar and non-solar renewable purchased obligation target for the year 2020-2021 as set by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission.
By another decision Cabinet granted ex-post expenditure sanction and approval for work order for laying 33 KV, 3Cx400 sq mm XLPE cables by horizontal directional drilling method at Tar bridge, Mapusa.
The Cabinet further granted approval for renewal of deed of lease of Fast Court-II premises situated in a private building at Panjim for a period of one-year.
