Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: In a startling revelation, Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar has termed the water leakage and water-logging at the recently inaugurated Ravindra Bhavan (Lata Mangeshkar Kalangan) as “shocking and shameful.” The prestigious cultural centre, which was inaugurated just nine months ago, is already facing serious maintenance issues.
Tawadkar, accompanied by Canacona Deputy Collector Pratap Rao Naik Gaunkar and a team from the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSIDC) led by General Manager (Civil) Dilip Joshi, conducted an inspection of the entire building following heavy water-logging inside the Taluka Library. The water seepage had extended to the main entrance area and the ground floor of the auditorium.
Despite being inaugurated on August 27, 2024, after nearly four years of delays on a project originally slated for a three-year timeline, the Kalangan is already battling structural and maintenance concerns. “We are surprised by the waterlogging in the Library during the first rains, even before the official onset of the monsoon season. The concerned authorities should have ensured proper upkeep of the building,” Tawadkar said, indirectly pointing fingers at the Department of Art & Culture.
The GSIDC, which constructed the building for the Art & Culture Department at an estimated cost of ₹64 crore, has not yet officially handed over the facility. According to GM Dilip Joshi, the issue stemmed from clogged drainage pipes, which were filled with garbage and debris. These pipes, responsible for draining rainwater from the roof, caused the water accumulation. He assured that the pipes have since been cleaned and that no further leaks or waterlogging have been reported.
Tawadkar confirmed that all cultural programs at Ravindra Bhavan have been temporarily suspended. The centre will reopen only after a thorough technical assessment and necessary repairs are completed, ensuring the building is safe for public use.
