Mangaluru City Corporation may reduce town hall rent

MANGALURU: The next council meeting of Mangaluru City Corporation will discuss on reducing the existing rent of Town Hall.
Mayor Kavitha Sanil took a decision to revise the rent chart of the Town Hall, which was renovated spending more than Rs 5 crore two years ago. Mayor held a meeting on Saturday involving representatives of various cultural organisations to discuss about revision of Town Hall rent.
Actors, directors, dance teachers, dancers, yakshagana artists, singers and organisers complained that the renovated town hall has no infrastructure required for cultural programmes. Directors Devadas Kapikad, Vijayakumar Kodialbail, Yakshagana artist Sathish Patla, magician Kudroli Ganesh, singer Nithyanand Rao, artist Shivananda Karkera and others pointed out that all the facilities should be provided at the town hall to promote the culture of coastal Karnataka.
Devadas Kapikad said that though there are plenty of artistes in Mangaluru, they lack platform to showcase their talent. “We have many talented youths in our region in the field of theatre, yakshagana, music and dance. Most of them are exhibiting their talent in Mumbai and other cities, but not in their hometown due to lack of infrastructure and platform. Due to increase in the rent, they are forced to stage programmes in temples and other places,” he said.
Sathish Patla said, “The rate fixed for town hall after its renovation is out of the reach of poor artistes.”
Vijayakumar Kodialbail said that drama troupes and other cultural programme organisers are forced to bring power generators as the town hall has no proper arrangements.
Kudroli Ganesh said that the city corporation should ensure that required power supply for stage performances are arranged during the cultural programmes. “We find no difference after the renovation of town hall. Give priority for cultural programmes rather than renting it out for marriages and other commercial events. The city has many halls for weddings and other programmes, but for artistes town hall is the only venue,” he added.
Artistes also complained about the lack of proper green rooms, lighings on the stage and other facilities. They demanded that the rent of the town hall for cultural programmes with tickets should not exceed Rs 10,000 and only a nominal rate should be charged for charity shows.
Mayor Kavitha Sanil said that a committee involving artistes will be set up to look into all the issues related to town hall. “All technical issues with regard to lighting and sound system in the town hall will be addressed through the committee. A decision regarding reducing the rent of the hall will be taken after a discussion in the council meet,” she added.
The town hall was given a facelift with new chairs, central AC, lightings, permanent sound system, eco-proof walls and ceiling in November 2015.