Lobo was speaking to media persons in the presence of the managing committee of Shree Varad Siddhivinayak Mandir, Parra, on Tuesday, at the temple premises.
“The people of Bardez lack a state-of-art auditorium though we have a minister for art & culture hailing from Bardez (without naming Art & Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar). The BJP government has promised to set up a Ravindra Bhavan in Mapusa, but Parra will have its own air-conditioned auditorium for tiatrs, nataks, dance competitions, etc much before Ravindra Bhavan comes up in Mapusa,” he said.
“The 1000 seating capacity auditorium will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore. The need for a separate auditorium was felt due to poor maintenance of Hanuman Natyagraha, Mapusa, where people hesitate to go for dramas or other functions. Our ex-chief minister Manohar Parrikar had also backed the auditorium for Parra. Parra has been famous for its 21-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and we would welcome everyone to our state-of-art auditorium” Lobo said.
Treasurer Dattaram Pednekar, urged the people of Parra and elsewhere to donate generously and help in the cause of construction of the hall at the earliest. “We have already laid the foundation at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh and hope to cast the first slab very soon. We solicit donations from devotees and others through donation coupons and appeals, and hope to get a good response.”
President Pradeep Morajkar said, “The old hall constructed in 1992 needed changes so we went in for a new structure at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore. We are going to the people for donations through donation coupons, appeals for souvenir, etc and urge people to donate generously for the good cause.”
Gorakh Mandrekar proposed a vote of thanks.
