PANAJI: The repair and renovation works at Kala Academy will be completed within the stipulated time frame set by the government and the building will be ready by February 2022, art and culture minister Govind Gaude said on Monday.
“I have not checked the site over the past eight days but until then, the waterproofing has been done on the slabs. We will check the sound and acoustics of the buildings, besides the other repair works,” he said.
Gaude said that the code of conduct for the 2022 elections will not affect the pace of work.
“We are optimistic that the works will be complete within 10 months. We started the renovation works in June and by February we should be able to complete them. We will give Kala Academy the best infrastructure,” the minister said.
Last month, the state government had submitted before the high court of Bombay at Goa that it has decided not to demolish any structures in the Kala Academy complex, including the open-air auditorium, but will undertake structural repairs and even renovation works for preservation and maintenance of the complex.
The court had taken cognisance of a TOI report in 2019 in which Gaude had stated that Kala Academy, one of Panaji’s most iconic buildings, would see its popular open-air auditorium demolished.
The minister later submitted to the high court that although the state government had not taken any decision to demolish the open-air auditorium, “other options” would be explored only if restoration of the structure was not possible.
