Govt plans to shift Ravindra Bhavan project to Cunchelim

Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude is holding a discussion while inspecting the new site for the Ravindra Bhavan project at Cunchelim, Mapusa on Monday.

Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira

MAPUSA

With plans to construct a Ravindra Bhavan opposite the Bodgeshwar Temple in Mapusa, leading to nowhere even after four years, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza along with the councillors of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has now zeroed in on a new site in Cunchelim.

A new site of around 18,000 sq metres has been identified near the Sai Baba Temple in Cunchelim which belongs to the local comunidade

The Cunchelim comundidade has principally agreed to part away with the land for the construction of the project.

Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude on Monday said that he was “impressed” with the land while conducting an inspection of the new site along with Mapusa MLA, MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal, Cunchelim Comunidade President Michael Carrasco and other councilors.

“This is an ideal place. The property is close to the NH66 and therefore accessibility will not be an issue. We don’t even have to acquire the land as Cunchelim comunidade has agreed to provide the land for the project,” Gaude said.

Gaude told the coumunidade to pass a resolution in favour of the project and submit the plans and other relevant details to his department so that work on the project can be taken up in quick time.

“I have always maintained that we will give top priority to the construction of Ravindra Bhavan in Bardez,” he said.

He also asked the local MLA to take all stakeholders like people involved in cultural activities, tiatrists, etc., so that proper facilities are made available to the artistes who will be using the place.

The minister admitted that the site at Bodgeshwa Temple was also a very good site but due to opposition of some farmers the government could not make any headway there.

Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza informed that the project in Cunchelim had an advantage since the site was close to the national highway.

“Thanks to the Cunchelim comunidade, our dream to construct the Ravindra Bhavan will now come true in Mapusa,” D’Souza said.

Interestingly, the initial plans were to construct the Ravindra Bhavan on a sprawling site opposite to the Bodgeshwar Temple on an area of around 40,000 sq mts.

The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) was then asked to prepare a detailed project report for the project.