Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Kala Rakhon Maand (KRM) after inspections declared Canacona Ravindra Bhavan as unfit, unsafe and dangerous for audiences and artists.
Canacona’s Ravindra Bhavan aka Lata Mangueshkar Kalangan was temportarily closed within 9 months of its inauguration (last August), after premonsoon rains in May month caused heavy leakage with water seeping inside damaging furniture in Taluka Library block and Electrical wiring and alignments in the complex including the Sanjay Bandekar Auditorium. The complex was partly opened last week organising Ranbhaji festival.
Earlier led by KRM Convenor Devidas Amonkar, the complex was jointly inspected alongwith member secretary Member Secretary/Canacona Dy. Collector Prataprao Gaonkar, with the laters explaining that the major issues Civil and Electrical for which it was closed has been resolved except for 15% pending issues of the Central Air-conditioner unit.
When KRM questioned for the reason of seepage and leakage from the roof, Member Secretary stated the problem of choked Drian-pipes with plastics such a bottles and others have been cleared, further said he is not technically capable the actual reason for water seepage into the Library block or complex from the terrace.
At one point Saish Panandikar complained the walls of the entire complex including the auditiorium are dampened, and moreover, it will be like doing make-up service everytime to hide this dampness. On close inspection, Francis Coelho pointed out the faulty and un-even wooden Stage in the auditoruim and soon joined by Cecelie Rodrigues that the wooden stage has protruding edges, which are very dangerous to aritists, particularly who performs their art barefoot.
Soon issues related to lightnings in the Auditorium and Exhibition rooms, non-availability of space for artists at backside (Stage), unwanted backdoors, Non- maintenance of Stage entrance height, un-movable stage wings, unsafe Women Green-Rooms (women artists), Spotlights, Narrow dug-out for Band/Musicians, Placement of Sound-Speaker on Stage blocks Audience stage view, Faulty numbering of Auditorium Rows (alphabet I row missing).
Rajdeep Naik, ‘What is so special about the missing ‘I’ seats-row in the Auditorium? The same thing is ‘I’ row is also missing in Kala Academy, Panjim. Is this government has some aspersions on ‘I’ alphabet?’ sarcastically stated.
Damodar Kamat, Sandesh Prabhudesai, Saish Panandikar, Cecile Rodrigues, Prashanti Talpankar, , Rajdeep Naik, Suchita Narvekar, Vishal Pai Kakode, Harsahda Kerkar, Francis Coelho, almost grilled member secretary on various missing and faulty aspects , who however responded saying all the issues raised by Kalakars will be forwarded to the concerned authorities including Department of Arts & Culture and GSIDC for rectification.
‘Like a few other Ravindra Bhavans Canaocna Ravindra Bhavan is built without involvement of any Kalakaras, but by political interference and infernces , and see the results. Will you be excpending lakhs and lakhs of rupees to repair?. We urge that Department of Art & Culture not to take the formal possession of Canacona Ravindra Bhavan until and unless all the works are not properly completed.’ Amonkar.
Kalakars also pointed the wrong spelling of Sanjay Bandekar Sabhagraha (as Sambhgraha), and missing of any portrait of Ex-Minister of Sports, Fisheries, Art & Culture, RDA late Sanjay Bandekar, also suggesting that the portraits of late Artists from Canacona should be displayed in the complex.
Member Secretary informed the visiting team that having resolved the Civil and Electrical issues barring a minor A/C problem and that too outside the Auditorium, Canacona’s Ravindra Bhavan is technically re-opened for the activities and one event of State level Ranbhji festrival is already hosted last week. Besides, starting tomorrow (Saturday) Directorate of Art & Culture is holding a 5-days Natyotsav-25 and a Tiatr is allotted autorium on 2nd August. ‘As 2 or 3 Tiatr’s were cancelled due to closure of complex, We are giving preferences to host Tiatr first’.
Later, Amonkar pinned a KalaRakhnenechiSupari to the Member Secretary Gaonkar as a gesture of goodwill and friendship.
RBS Komarpant, Kamlakhar Mhalshi, Suraj Komarpant, Egypt Gracias, aritsts and member of KRM, besides Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari and his team from Canacona were also present.
