CM promises to reduce Town Hall rentals

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that the rentals of the Town Hall would be reduced.

He was speaking after inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of the Ravindra Kalakshetra in the city.

At the event, writer B T Lalitha Naik urged the chief minister that the rentals of Ravindra Kalakshetra be brought down. Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree soon reacted that it had already been done.

The other artistes present on the occasion sought that the rentals of Town Hall also be brought down. “We will certainly do it,” Siddaramaiah assured.

The chief minister spoke about the contributions of several personalities in the construction of the building.

Siddaramaiah recalled that at the time of construction, Rs 2 lakh was given by the union government and Rs 2 lakh by the state to construct the Kalakshetra.

“Tamil actor Shivaji Ganeshan performed at Town Hall to raise money for the construction. He gave Rs 22,000,” he said. The building was constructed to mark the birth centenary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore.

He said soon, the Kalakshetra will offer a better experience for the audience as the sound and light system was being improvised. A series of events are planned from September 7 to 11 to mark the celebrations.

The Kalakshetra came alive on Wednesday with scores of artistes performing plays, singing and presenting Yakshagana on the premises, before the formal inauguration of the event.

Veteran artiste Vimala Rangachar (who was a part of the committee set up by the government to oversee the construction of the Kalakshetra), noted Yakshagana artiste Chittani Ramachandra Hegde and senior artiste Puttamallegowda were honoured on the occasion by the Department of Kannada And Culture for their contributions.
DH News Service