MARGAO
The Charles Corriea Foundation has underscored the need to revisit all works carried out and identify the shortcomings and provide a direction to the completion and final restoration of the Kala Academy.
Renowned architect and Convenor of the Charles Corriea Foundation Tanvi Karia made a detailed presentation on the deteriorating health of the Kala Academy at a meeting convened by Kala Rakhonn Mandd at the Gomant Vidya Niketan hall.
The meeting attended by artists, social activists, besides politicians and MLAs saw demand being made to the government to come out with a White Paper on Kala Academy. Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai called upon the artists to file an intervention petition in the High Court demanding a White Paper from the government, while Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao demanded an inspection to ascertain the health of Kala Academy, promising to raise the issue in the coming Assembly session.
After the presentation, CCF Convenor Tanvi Karia concluded by saying there should have been an advisory committee of the primary users, when the restoration was happening, but it was not formed and nor were the artists consulted.
She further stated that when concerns were raised over the repair and renovation work and help was offered to the authorities, it was looked like an opposition rather than a suggestion.
Tanvi further said that the Kala Academy restoration process was an opaque process since there was no communication at all, with people kept in the dark what was happening inside.
“Unlike other prior restoration works that were bound by time constraint, the current restoration works had the opportunity to carry out all the necessary works in good time”, she added.
Tiatrists Roseferns and Francis de Tuem also addressed the meeting and assured their support to the Kala Rakhonn Mandd.
In his address, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that Kala Academy has been the soul of the artists. He said the insightful presentation by Convenor of CCF Tanvi Karia has exposed the repairs works undertaken by the corruption BJP. Saying that the Kala Academy is being openly massacred, Yuri said he along with colleagues will work with the artists of Goa to save the pride of Goa.
Besides Yuri, the meeting was attended by GPCC Chief Amit Patkar, Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas.
In his address, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai said he had filed a petition in the High Court over the repair works carried out at the Kala Academy. Referring to the demand made by senior journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai to the government to present a white paper on the repairs and renovation carried out at the Kala Academy till date, Sardesai said the government will never come out with such a paper.
“The only avenue left for the artists now is to file an intervention application before the High Court to my writ petition in the Court”, he added.
Artist Rajdeep Naik, Saish Panandikar, Cecilia Rodrigues, Anthony D’Silva and other also spoke at the meeting.
