The Dinabandhu Manch. Picture by Avijit Sarkar

Siliguri, June 1: Strapped for cash, the information and cultural department has decided to hand over the running of Dinabandhu Manch, the premier multi-purpose cultural auditorium in Siliguri, to the local civic body.

The date of transfer of the auditorium's management to Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) will be fixed after the modalities are worked out.

The initiative, which, officials claimed, was taken two years ago, will take final shape shortly after the authorities concerned meet for negotiations on who will take over the liabilities of the financially ailing auditorium. However, both the government and the CPM-led civic body have maintained that the handover will “smoothen” the maintenance and management of the multifaceted auditorium.

“Talks are underway to give the initiative a final touch. Only the maintenance and management affairs will be handed over to SMC,” municipal affairs and urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya, who is also the Siliguri MLA, said.

“Things will certainly improve for Dinabandhu Manch if maintenance and management go to the local authorities. Along with giving the auditorium a timely touch-up, the SMC can pump in some money from its own fund,” he added.

The auditorium has run up electricity dues amounting to a whopping Rs 30 lakh. The two-storeyed theatre-cum-auditorium portrays the poor financial health of the government with the plaster peeling off the walls and furniture lying broken.

“We discussed the matter in our member-in-council meeting at SMC on May 23. The clarification from the government on the issue is yet to be received,” said Bikash Ghosh, SMC mayor and chairman of the advisory committee of Dinbandhu Manch.

“There are no liabilities except the pending electricity bills. The SMC will have to sit with the information and culture department to clarify the issue and other nitty-gritty like salaries of employees and rates for hiring the auditorium,” added Ghosh.

The move has triggered howls of protest from the Opposition in the municipal corporation. “We fear the initiative will lead to the CPM hijacking Dinabandhu Manch, the pride of the town, for its party activities. The auditorium would be more accessible for the party cadre for their numerous conventions and seminars round the year, that also at a minimal charge or absolutely free of cost,” said Congress councillor and leader of the Opposition in the SMC Sadananda Das.

“There is no justification in handing over government properties to local bodies, especially to the people's representatives and give them ample chance to manipulate it. The move is bound to put SMC in the red. SMC would be under pressure from the political parties to let them use the hall and that does not sound like a profitable deal,” Das said.