Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Aug 3: Historic Abhinav Theatre, which has been named after an eminent scholar and Shaivite, Abhinav Gupt, who had the honour of commentating and making critical appreciation on the art of Bharatnatyam, which had brought him worldwide recognition and fame, is presently facing official apathy as it is closed for over 2 years for its renovation, leaving the culturists, artists, dramatists and the social activists in the lurch.
Sources said that occurrence of leakage in the roof of the Theatre in the year 2011 was proving to be a stumbling block for holding activities in it during the rainy and inclement weather conditions, which forced the custodians of the Theatre, the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art and Culture, to think of its renovation, adding that the Theatre was closed on April 1, 2012 for the renovation purposes.
Sources added that the leaked water initially damaged walls and allied things and then took its toll on the chairs inside the hall, making them out of shape and odd for comfortable stay.
“After the establishment of the Theatre in the year 1978, the minor repairs and renovations have been taking place in the Theatre from time to time. However, it was in the year 1999-2000 that the major renovation of the Theatre was initiated under the supervision of Balwant Thakur,” said an employee of this autonomous organization.
Sources further said that the Academy had initially approached the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) for the renovation purpose, adding that the Department had refused to take up the work for some unknown reasons, which made the concerned authorities to approach Public Works Department that gave its Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 2.97 crores for renovating 130×130 feet area of roof alongwith minor repairs.
Official sources further said that a scheme was launched by the Centre on 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindra Nath Tagore that all the infrastructure for organization of social, cultural and allied activities in the Country will be renovated with 40 percent funding by the State Government and 60 percent by the Central, adding that the project was taken by PWD under this scheme.
However, after threadbare discussions and deliberations, the Academy took the decision of installing new Light and Sound Systems, ACs, Generators and replacing chairs with newer ones, rather than renovating them to take earlier DPR or estimate of Rs 2.97 crores to the tune of 6.5 crores.
“After the directions from Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who happens to be the president of the Academy and the then concerned Minister, Rigzin Jora, the renovation work was initiated by PWD. The work is still on and the completion needs a final touch only,’’ said an employee of the Academy while talking to EXCELSIOR and expressing anonymity.
He added that the team of experts from Centre visited the venue, many a time, to check the renovations works and analyzing the proper appropriation of funds.
Sources said that the local expert team and the team of experts from outside the State have out-rightly rejected the quality of the chairs, which have been replaced by the standard quality newer ones analogous to the chairs installed at the Tagore Hall in Srinagar.
“Nodal Agency PWD has asked the present Minister concerned, Raman Bhalla, who is keen for its resumption to provide rest of the funds at an earliest to make the Theatre functional as soon as possible. The Theatre needs just a fortnight for the completion of its renovation work and would depend on the seriousness of the authorities,” said an official stationed at the Theatre.
It has been observed that the culturists, artists and social activists, who are waiting in the wings to make use of the Theatre are highly vexed over the delay in decoration of this asset in Jammu.
When contacted, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Housing, Culture and Horticulture said that Government is leaving no stone unturned in developing and renovating infrastructure in noks and corners of the State, adding that efforts or on to make the Theatre functional as soon as possible.
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