TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Sharply criticising the need for two major art and cultural centres in Mormugao taluka, Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar on Thursday admitted that it was a big mistake of the previous government to have had two large cultural centres in Mormugao taluka.
Mandrekar even went to the extent of stating that the Art and Culture department is against another auditorium at Sancoale and would not take the responsibility of starting the Kala Bhavan at Sancoale.
“With Goans entering into film making avenues, the government should have constructed a film city instead of Kala Bhavan at Sancoale, as the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina-Vasco is large enough to cater to the entire taluka,” said Mandrekar, while speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural function of Baina Ravindra Bhavan on Thursday.
The AC auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan at Baina has a capacity to seat 700 people, while the complex will include a VIP room, rehearsal halls, a 170-seater mini theatre, conference hall, cafeteria, administrative block and an art gallery.
Mandrekar inaugurated the Baina Ravindra Bhavan in the presence of Power Minister Milind Naik, Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Sunita Usgaonkar, councillors and officials of GSIDC and Art and Culture Department.
“The previous government made a big mistake by constructing the Kala Bhavan at Sancoale. When such a large Ravindra Bhavan was constructed at Baina, there was no need to construct another Kala Bhavan at Sancoale,” he said.
“If the government wanted to construct something in line with art and culture, it should have constructed a film city, as many Goans are now entering into films. Since there is already a Ravindra Bhavan at Baina, the Art and Culture department is against another auditorium at Sancoale and will not take the responsibility of starting the Kala Bhavan at Sancoale,” said Mandrekar.
Milind Naik said the Baina Ravindra Bhavan belongs to the people of Mormugao and to the artistes of the taluka. “There was a strong need to have Ravindra Bhavan in Mormugao, which is fulfilled now by constructing it at Baina,” said Naik.
Meanwhile, Godinho has defended the need for the Kala Bhavan at Sancoale, stating that it would be more than just a Kala Bhavan.
“On the first floor, there is a provision for music and threatre classes. The project is almost completed and the art and culture department has no choice but to take it over,” said Godinho.
