PANJIM: A delegation of artistes and other citizens under the banner of Kala Rakhonn Manch gathered outside Kala Academy on Tuesday,  and broke the Shriphal (coconut) to launch their agitation. They are demanding the restoration of Kala Academy to its original state. They were supposed to proceed to Mantralaya at Porvorim to hand over memorandum to CM’s office.

However the CM reportedly sent the SDM to meet the artistes at Kala Academy. Artistes highlighted the leakage and poor quality of work at the Kala Academy after spending crores of rupees. They also said that they were forced to hire their own sound system for their shows, despite the best sound system claimed to have been installed at Kala Academy after the renovation.

They said they saw no improvement of Kala Academy. In a memorandum which was submitted to the SDM sent by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, they demanded a white paper on Kala Academy renovation works.