PORVORIM: The State Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed a noisy scene over the Opposition’s demand for an audit of the renovation works of Kala Academy carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD).
While replying to the demands for grants for Sports and Youth Affairs, Art and Culture and Department of Rural Development, Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude said his department has prepared complete list of works to be undertaken, while handing over the work to the PWD and is keeping track of the works on timely basis.
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The Minister assured the House that no work will be left incomplete. However, he pointed out that even Charles Correa Foundation and his team were not able to provide solutions to the problems of Kala Academy, which has been built on sand dunes and is just 2.5 metres away from the tide line.
He said the Directorate of Art and Culture will soon notify the Goa Library Policy, which will be a one-of-a-kind initiative in the library movement of India. He said all the cabinet members and stakeholders will be taken into confidence before finalising the policy.
However, this did not satisfy the opposition members who insisted that the Minister order for an audit of the work. Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “An inquiry in order to ascertain who is responsible for the substandard work and audit should be done. Artistes cannot be blamed. The minister did not take the artistes into confidence. It should not be made an issue of ego. The Chief Minister should tell us where the IIT report has gone?”
“There are problems with sound, light, carpet, water, air conditioners, mikes. There are problems and problems. There must be an audit to ascertain whether PWD is responsible or the Art and Culture Department is responsible,” Yuri said.
“We cannot play with the sentiments of the artistes because they are upset with the substandard work. You look at the wall. It is pathetic. You look at the way it is leaking,” he said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai claimed that architect Chirag Jain was a consultant in 2004-2005 when renovation work was carried out and he was not consulted after that. He said the work is a monument of corruption.
However, Gaude said he mentioned Jain’s name in the context of 2004-2005.
Earlier, replying to the demands for grants, Gaude said under Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM), 3,924 Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed covering 47,269 household members.
Self Help Groups are supported by around Rs 19 crore through Community Investment Fund (CIF) and Village Organisations (VO).
Gaude said the government has decided to construct Ravindra Bhavan for Bardez taluka and urged the MLAs to suggest a suitable place for the same.He also said that the Ravindra Bhavan in Sanguem is in the pipeline and a consultant has been appointed for its design and planning. The Minister said he is working towards bringing sports universities and sports science centres in the State.
