PANJIM: The Kala Academy Task Force Chairman Vijay Kenkre on Tuesday expressed extreme dissatisfaction over the quality of renovation work done at the Kala Academy. The academy renovation has been mired in a string of controversies since 2023. In this edition of street voices, Herald TV spoke to various people on whether there should be a detailed vigilance inquiry in the entire Kala Academy renovation work.
The statement made by Vijay Kenkre, Chairman of the Task Force is not his statement. It is the statement of the entire Task Force. We from the Kala Rakhon Manch who have joined the Task Force are coming to know of all that has happened in the Kala Academy. They are claiming to have spent Rs 4 to 5 crores for about 6 to 8 sound boxes but in Mumbai for Navratri they spend that much of money for about 24 to 50 sound boxes which is for about one lakh people. If they have spent that much money, it is clear evidence of corruption. We don’t know if they have put in fake bills or forged the bills. They have brought the wrong sound boxes and the sound is bad and a vigilance inquiry against them has to be conducted.
We have asked for a white paper from the government. If the government gives the white paper, everything will be clear to us. Thereafter inquiry should be held. Rs 65 crores of people’s money has been spent. There is no outcome. There has to be accountability. So there has to be an inquiry. During the inspection we have not seen quality work. Every theatre has an ‘A’ row. They have removed the ‘A’ row without any justification. Why has the seating capacity been reduced? Was there a policy decision on this? The air conditioning is making noise and creates disturbance for artistes. Naturally in a Vigilance Inquiry everything will be clear, but in our next meeting we will hear out the contractors and the officials.
The Kala Academy was taken up for renovation and it stagnated. Thereafter the work began but it was poor quality work. We have seen that slab of the outdoor auditorium has collapsed. If you sit in the indoor auditorium you don’t get proper air conditioning. There is no proper arrangement for the artistes’ changing rooms. This is a big scam. The government has spent more than Rs 75 crores to Rs 80 crores till date on Kala Academy. But what is the outcome? It is mere shoddy work, poor quality work and basically sub-standard work. If one sits in the Kala Academy it appears that one has to risk one’s life and venture there. The government has finished one generation of artistes. There should be a criminal inquiry against them.