Centre's apathy causes delay in Rabindra Sadan revamp

KOLKATA: The Centre's apathy in replying to the state's proposal to develop Rabindra Sadan to a national centre for performing arts is delaying the final decision on the future of the project.

According to sources at Nabanna, the state government had proposed to develop Rabindra Sadan to a national centre for performing arts and necessary works were carried out to prepare a plan of action regarding the same.

The move was taken around three years ago and it was then calculated that the development of Rabindra Sadan to a centre for arts of the national level would cost around Rs 400 crore.

After completion of necessary paper works in this regard, the state wrote to the Centre proposing to share a part of the project cost.

The official said despite providing each and every detail of the project, the Centre has not replied leaving the state government in complete darkness in connection with the proposed project.

The Centre has not made its stand clear on whether it would bear any part of the project cost.

It may be mentioned that in

the past six years, after the

Mamata Banerjee government came to power, priority was given to improve the infrastructure of all auditoriums both in the city and in the districts.

Beautification work was also carried out in the Nandan-Rabindra Sadan area, which is considered to be the state's cultural hub.

Different cultural activities take place at Rabindra Sadan round-the-year. Such initiatives have given a new dimension to the cultural life of the state.

The present government has undertaken all the projects

despite a huge loan burden left behind by the erstwhile Left Front government.

Even in such a situation, the present government is carrying on with many projects for which the Centre has slashed or, in some cases, even stopped its funding.