Works at Ravindra Bhavan Started Without Approval, Says Cacode

Margao: Ravindra Bhavan Margao, long regarded as the cultural hub of South Goa, has come under scrutiny after its Chairman, Mr. Rajendra Talak, reportedly admitted that repair works were allowed to begin without the mandatory expenditure sanction and work orders. The allegation was made on Monday by artist and former member of the Goa State Cultural Development Committee, Vishal Pai Cacode.

Mr. Cacode described the development as a serious procedural lapse. He said that expenditure sanctions and work orders are not optional formalities but safeguards meant to ensure transparency and protect public funds. Bypassing them, he noted, raises concerns about the governance of cultural institutions.

According to Mr. Cacode, permitting works to proceed without financial or administrative approval amounted to a violation of established norms of governance and weakened the system of checks and balances designed to prevent misuse of funds. He cautioned that the matter could not be overlooked under the pretext of urgency or convenience.

He further observed that cultural spaces such as Ravindra Bhavan are public institutions created with taxpayers’ money, and not personal domains of political appointees. Actions that circumvent due process, he said, could undermine public confidence in the management of these centres.

Mr. Cacode urged the Department of Art and Culture to examine the issue, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that all public cultural bodies adhere strictly to financial and administrative procedures.

Goa’s cultural institutions, he reiterated, must be guided by integrity and accountability to preserve their role in nurturing artistic expression. He added that restoring confidence in the functioning of Ravindra Bhavan Margao was important to safeguard its role as a key space for artists and audiences in the State.