Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla, has asked the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department and Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to work in double shifts for speedy completion of renovation work on Abhinav Theatre in Jammu and Tagore Hall and SPS Museum in Srinagar.
The Minister was interacting with the officers of Tourism, Culture, R&B and JKPCC at a high level meeting convened here this afternoon.
Secretary Tourism and Culture, Zaffar Ahmed, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Khalid Bashir, Managing Director, JKPCC, T R Bhagat, Chief Engineer R&B, Sheikh Hamid besides other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Bhalla said Government has approved revised cost worth Rs.6.83 crore for restoration work of roof top, plaster work on walls, white wash inside and outside the theatre including sub-office, painting of all wooden, steel work, new modern lighting system inside and outside with power saver electrification, modern lighting for stage, wiring system of audio system, stage with teak wood, central office building, old water tank, air condition, green rooms, wash rooms besides repair of K L Saigal hall and installation of firefighting equipment.
Regarding renovation of Tagore Hall in Srinagar, the Minister informed that Government has released Rs. 12.46 crore, of which, works worth Rs. 9 crore have been completed. Besides, remaining projects would be completed within prescribed time frame in double shifts.
Bhalla said that the released funds for renovation of Abhinab Theatre has been kept at the disposal of Chief Engineer R&B Jammu for carrying out necessary renovation works of both the places and renovation work of Tagore Hall in Srinagar, the funds kept at the disposal of JKPCC.
The Minister asked the R&B engineers to immediately replace old chairs with quality chairs as per specification approved by the committee members of JKAACL.
Bhalla revealed that promotion of culture and art has received focused attention of the Government, adding that all other cultural centres would be modernized and equipped with high-tech audiovisual systems in a phased manner across the state.
The Minister said Government has also submitted a detailed project report of Rs. 9.25 crore to Central Government for construction of one more state of art auditorium in 5 kanal available land at Kala Kendra near Bikram Chowk. Besides, Rs. 50 lakh have been released for face lifting of Kala Kendra.
Follow our WhatsApp channel