SHILLONG: Arts and Culture Minister A.L Hek has differed with the claims of the Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma that the work for the Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture at New Shillong Township has come to a standstill saying that the work for the project is going in full swing.
“The project is going on in full swing and the department is looking to complete the project at the earliest,” he said. Stating that the progress of the project is more than 80 per cent, he however added that the department is looking to add few more features and values in the project for which they require additional funds. According to the minister, the state government may approach the Centre or may even manage funds from other resources to complete the massive project. It was expected that construction of the Centre, which is supposedly will be the biggest assets of the state, to be completed this year.
The Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture is a Centre for performing arts and culture with state of the art facilities. It is being built at Mawkasiang village at a 40-acre land under the New Shillong Township, about 15 km from Shillong.The project is funded under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources with Rs 136.20 crore and a state share of over Rs 15.13 crore.
The project was sanctioned on March 27, 2014, and the contract was awarded on February 25, 2015.
Facilities at the international centre consists of a multi-purpose theater with a seating capacity of 1,750, an open air theater with a seating capacity of 15,000, parking space, besides other facilities.
The centre will also house an art gallery, tribal museum, banquet hall, office space, media centre, food court, fire fighting and prevention system, effluent treatment and rain water harvesting systems.
It also has venue for hosting mega cultural events like music, dance, theatre, film festival and other activities that would promote culture and arts particularly those of the Northeastern states by organising cross cultural exchanges with various states of the country and abroad.
