Rabindra Bhawan

Dec. 17: Amateur cultural groups and clubs in the city are facing problem for lack of a proper venue to stage functions as the Rabindra Bhawan has been closed for renovation. The District Library, the other possible venue, lacks infrastructure to hold functions.

The newly inaugurated and available Pragjyoti Cultural Complex at Machkhowa, on the other hand, is charging over Rs 15,000 a day, which is pretty high for an amateur group.

One of the affected groups is the socio-cultural organisation, New Art Players (NAP), which had to defer their All Assam Invitation Drama Competition for lack of a suitable auditorium. The organisation is celebrating its golden jubilee and wanted to host the drama in a manner befitting the celebrations.

?We had proposed to organise the programme at Rabindra Bhawan. But as the building is under renovation, so we will have to postpone the programme. We do not have any option until we get a different hall,? an official of the organisation said.

He said the festival, which was earlier tentatively scheduled for December, will now be held in February. ?We will try to fix the District Library by hiring makeshift facilities. It is indeed very difficult to organise this grand programme in makeshift pandals, but we do not have any option,? the official said.

The drama competition is a part of the yearlong golden jubilee celebrations of the New Art Players.

The public works department (PWD) is executing the Rs 1.6-crore project for the renovation of Rabindra Bhawan. The funds for the project were provided by the cultural affairs department of the state government.

The renovation includes setting central air-conditioning system, state-of-the-art doors and ventilators, installation of a diesel generator set and fresh electrification. The upgradation of the power system has been necessitated as most of wires are worn out and needed replacement.

The stage at the Bhawan has been renovated with waterproof material. The wood fittings of the earlier stage were completely damaged because of water seepage.

Commissioner and secretary (culture), M.K. Baruah, said the civil construction work of the building is completed with the Rs 50 lakh which was released in the first phase. He said the second phase of the fund would be released within a short time.