By Mohinder Verma
KISHTWAR, July 13: Astonishing it may sound but it is a harsh reality that an open-air theatre which was constructed by making huge expenditure with the sole objective of promoting cultural activities has never been used for the intended purpose ever since its construction. The height of the official apathy can be gauged from the fact that major portion of the theatre is being used for office purpose by different departments.
This beautiful open air theatre albeit not of gigantic capacity was constructed in the year 2008-09 in the premises of Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) in the heart of Kishtwar town with the solitary objective of providing a platform to the local artists to organize cultural activities.
Having seating arrangement for more than 100 people and adequate number of changing rooms for the artists besides proper lighting facility, the open-air theatre was expected to play a major role in boosting the cultural activities.
Shockingly, this open-air theatre, officially believed to be constructed by spending not less than Rs 50 lakh, has not been put to use for the intended purpose till date because of the apathy of the concerned authorities.
What to talk of encouraging different organizations working for the promotion of cultural activities to make use of this platform, even the Government’s cultural functions are not organized at this place as a result of which the expenditure on its construction remains an unfruitful expenditure.
“It is not understandable as to why the Government’s cultural activities in connection with different occasions are not organized at this platform and rather arrangements are made at other places for the same”, people of Kishtwar said.
Due to official apathy, the major portion of the open-air theatre is being used as offices of different officers. “The changing rooms are being used as offices by the Chief Executive Officer of the Kishtwar Development Authority, Executive Engineer, Accounts Officer and Establishment Section of the CEO’s office while as another portion is being used by drawing section of the CEO office”, official sources said.
In the absence of any proper focus on its proper use and upkeep, the open-air theatre has started suffering damages also, they said, adding “if this facility continued to remain uncared and unused, the damages will increase with the passage of time”.
According to the people, “the main area of the open air theatre, which is also slightly covered, is put to use by the officials of different departments for smoking to avoid public glare”, adding “the platform and stairs of the open air theatre can be easily seen used by the officials and security forces personnel for gossips and enjoying sunrays during winters”.
When contacted, an officer of the Kishtwar Development Authority said, on the condition of anonymity, “no seriousness has ever been shown in making best use of the open-air theatre for obvious reasons”, adding “had there been any interest in making intended use of this facility first the changing rooms of the theatre could have been vacated”.
“Had this been done, at least Government schools would have been able to conduct small cultural functions there but there is non-seriousness at every level”, he regretted.
What to talk of open-air theatre, fountains in the premises of TRC have also been mocking at the concerned authorities as they are non-functional during the past quite long time. “It seems there was only interest in creating these facilities and then leaving them unattended”, sources said.
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