Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 28: A portion of the false ceiling at the renovated Kala Academy building collapsed on Saturday inside the violin classroom, reigniting controversy over the quality of work carried out at Goa’s premier cultural institution. Fortunately, the room was unoccupied at the time, averting any injuries.

The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the recently completed restoration work, which has faced repeated criticism over alleged substandard quality and lack of accountability.

Adding to the public alarm, chunks of concrete also fell from the Udyog Bhavan near Azad Maidan, Panaji, onto the footpath, raising concerns over the safety of pedestrians. The ageing structure houses important government departments including the Department of Information and Publicity and the GHRSSIDC emporium.

Cecille Rodrigues, Secretary of Rakhonn Mandd — a collective of artists — squarely blamed the Kala Academy ceiling collapse on “substandard workmanship and blatant disregard for quality and safety protocols.” She added that both her group and a government-appointed task force had repeatedly flagged the poor quality of work, but the warnings went unheeded.

The Kala Academy's renovation, initiated in 2020–21 and completed last year, has been marred by controversy from the outset. Critics feared the iconic structure, originally designed by legendary architect Charles Correa, would be compromised. Allegations of corruption further intensified public scrutiny.

Amid growing criticism, the state government had constituted a task force, which later identified several faults in the renovation. The matter was subsequently handed over to the Vigilance Department for a probe, though findings of the investigation are yet to be made public.