Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra has stepped into its proud 22nd year on Saturday. The Sentinel had a visit to the Kalakshetra and came to know the new initiatives and upcoming projects taken by the authority and the government of Assam there. Among them, the proposed project of setting up the Sankaradeva museum can be regarded as a notable initiative.
Speaking to The Sentinel, Ramen Haloi, a junior assistant of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra said, “Among other initiatives, we’re contemplating on setting up a Sankaradeva Museum to showcase the lifecycle of Srimanta Sankaradeva in 3D style. The estimated budget for this project is Rs 50 crore. The funds, however, have not been sanctioned as yet. Fencing and electrification of the area of 130 bigha are going on with the support of the Cultural Affairs department. Our budget for this project is Rs 1 crore, and we’ve already received Rs 50 lakh.
Besides this, the earlier projects, including the Dancing Fountain and Ganasilpi Khagen Mahanta Udyan, have already been opened for visitors. The construction of toilets block in auditorium campus is on its way to be completed soon.” Haloi added, “Among the other initiatives, the installation of a bronze statue of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva can be mentioned. The works have already been completed and it’ll be installed soon. We’re expecting to be ready with a new auditorium with a capacity of 800 seats by next year. The work of the auditorium started way back in 2006. The work was interrupted, and now government has again sanctioned Rs 50 lakh. We’re also discussing the setting up a new artistes’ village with 1,000 intake capacity beside the existing one.”