Kala Academy collapse: Oppn targets govt in Goa Assembly, demands minister’s resignation
The Assembly began on a stormy note as Opposition MLAs rushed to the Well of the House, holding placards and raising slogans.
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The structure that collapsed was not undergoing renovation, according to Goa CM Pramod Sawant. (Photo: Sourced) The collapse of a structure of an open-air auditorium at Kala Academy in Panaji on Monday dominated proceedings on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, as Opposition parties demanded a detailed discussion on the issue and targeted the government alleging “large-scale” corruption in the renovation work at the prominent cultural centre.
Opposition MLAs moved an adjournment motion seeking suspension of the Question Hour in order to discuss the collapse incident. The Assembly began on a stormy note as Opposition MLAs rushed to the Well of the House, holding placards and raising slogans. Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar suggested to the MLAs that they move a calling attention motion on the issue.
With proceedings disrupted, Tawadkar rejected the adjournment motion and suspended the House for half an hour. When the session resumed, Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader Vijai Sardesai continued to protest at the Well of the House.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later addressed the issue, saying that an investigation was initiated and that the principal chief engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) has been directed to submit a preliminary inquiry regarding the collapse.
“Directions have been given to appoint an independent agency like IIT Roorkee or any other IIT/NIT to ascertain the cause of the incident. An explanation has also been sought from the contractor executing the renovation or refurbishment works. No one will be spared if found guilty. The structure that collapsed was not undergoing renovation. The report shall be tabled during the ongoing session,” Sawant said.
The GFP’s Sardesai said the probe should be conducted in a time-bound manner and demanded that the Arts and Culture Minister, Govind Gaude, be sacked “for corruption”.
Congress’s Yuri Alemao, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said, “Who is going to take the moral responsibility [for the collapse]? This has turned into another monument of corruption. Public money is going down the drain.”
Designed by renowned architect Charles Correa and built in the 1960s, the Kala Academy has emerged as the state’s premier art and culture centre over several decades. For more than two years, the premises have been shut on account of renovation work being carried out by the government. The renovation work, estimated to cost more than Rs 55 crore, has been marred by allegations of corruption, with Opposition parties alleging irregularities in allocating work to the contractor without a tendering process.
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