Tiatr Lovers, Activists March to Ravindra Bhavan Seeking Reopening Date 

Team Goemkarponn

MARGAO: Tiatr lovers, political workers, and social activists from Canacona marched to the Ravindra Bhavan complex (Lata Mangeshkar Kalangan) on Tuesday, seeking clarity on the reopening of the Sanjay Bandekar Auditorium. The auditorium has remained shut since it was flooded during pre-monsoon rains on May 20. As no responsible officer was available at the venue to respond to their queries, the group later submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector and Member Secretary of Canacona, urging the resolution of several pending issues before the auditorium is reopened for Tiatr and other cultural events.

Gaspar Coutinho, General Secretary (Organisation) of the South Goa District Congress Committee (SGDCC), who led the delegation, stated that the Directorate of Art and Culture had been informed in advance about the visit. He said the community is concerned about the indefinite closure of the auditorium, which had forced the cancellation of a scheduled Tiatr on May 20 after rainwater entered the complex through the adjoining Taluka Library block. The flooding damaged books, furniture, electrical fittings, and other amenities within the premises.

The activists’ memorandum listed multiple concerns, including the malfunctioning central air conditioning system, which has been unable to maintain a suitable temperature inside the hall, and a faulty power generator that does not automatically switch during electricity outages. They also demanded that the canteen facility, which remains non-operational, be made functional by allotting the designated space. Additionally, they sought a status update on the repair and renovation work and a probable date for reopening the auditorium for public performances.

Coutinho said the Deputy Collector assured the delegation that the concerns raised would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities and that steps would be taken to allot the canteen space soon. Among those who joined the march were Goa State Youth Congress Vice-President Vaishnav Pednekar, Canacona Mahila Congress Block President Ursila Costa, SGDCC Secretary Remy Dias, Poinguinim VP Panch member Pravir Bhandari, members of ‘We For Palolem’ organisation, and several Tiatr lovers from across the taluka.