Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Kala Academy complex will remain closed from August 1 to facilitate further repair works after an assessment by IIT Madras reportedly identified 18 major defects in the recently renovated facility, members of the Kala Academy Task Force said.
The decision was taken following discussions on the technical findings, which highlighted several shortcomings in the renovation work carried out at the cultural complex. The Task Force has maintained that the defects require immediate corrective action to ensure the safety and functionality of the premises.
The committee has also demanded that responsibility be fixed for the alleged deficiencies in the project. It has called for the recovery of costs from the contractor responsible for the renovation, alleging that nearly 80 per cent of the expenditure incurred on the project did not achieve its intended purpose because of the defective work.
According to the Task Force, the closure of the complex is necessary to allow comprehensive repairs and rectification of the identified issues. The panel stressed that public funds must be protected and that accountability should be established for any lapses in execution.
Meanwhile, deliberations regarding the renovation of the Open Air Auditorium are still pending, with the committee yet to take a final decision on the future course of action for that component of the project.
The developments have renewed scrutiny over the renovation of one of Goa’s premier cultural institutions, with the Task Force emphasising the need for quality control, transparency and responsibility in public infrastructure projects.
