Team Herald
MARGAO: Charles Correa Foundation (CCF) convenor Tahir Noronha on Thursday reiterated that the Kala Academy (KA) work is a ‘conservation project’ and needs to be done in a ‘scientific manner’.
Reacting to the statements made by Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude regarding CCF and the original construction of the iconic KA complex and the ongoing reconstruction, Noronha said, “Considering the value of the building a qualified conservation architect should have been appointed, and a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) should have been prepared before any work commenced.”
Noronha said. “The Charles Correa Foundation would like to clarify a few statements from the Minister for Art and Culture, Govind Gaude at the Assembly on Wednesday wherein he said he approached us for a solution and we did not provide anything”.
“We would like to reiterate that KA work is a ‘conservation project’ and needs to be done in a ‘scientific manner’, considering the value of the building a qualified conservation architect should have been appointed, and a CCMP should have been prepared before any work commenced,” said Noronha.
“In this connection we had approached the National Centre for Safety of Heritage Structures IIT Madras. The premier institute for this work in the country. A joint proposal from CCF & IIT was submitted to the Kala Academy on 20-02-2020. CCF was agreeing to work pro-bono. The proposal was ignored,” he added.
“To date, since the commencement of the work in May 2021, we are yet to receive an official communication from either the Minister of Culture or the Kala Academy,” Noronha concluded.
