Hubballi:The convention hall built to promote cultural activities in Hubballi city is drawing criticism after being converted into a space for govt offices and a godown, with visitors and artists pointing to neglect, dust, a filthy atmosphere and drainage water affecting the premises.
Built more than 20 years for more than Rs 7.5 crore, the facility was intended to serve artists and host cultural programmes. Soon after its inauguration by the the then chief minister Siddaramaiah during his first tenure, in 2015, the Sanskrutika Bhavan in the New Cotton Market (NCM) area hosted many cultural programmes, along with some govt events. He said a detailed project report estimated at Rs 2 crore for repair and overhaul, including the air-conditioning, will be taken up in due course.
People visiting the building for work complain of an unbearable stench due to choked drainage leading to accumulation of sewage water. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Vijay Kumar R, the additional commissioner, HDMC, said owing to pending repair works at the convention hall, it has been kept closed. Over time, as the hall’s cultural use diminished, the premises were increasingly taken up by official functions. At present, the building houses offices of Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL), the HDMC helpline office and the Solid Waste Management office. Visitors and residents say over time, it has turned a space that was originally planned for cultural programmes turned into an administrative hub and a godown to dump waste. The situation worsens during heavy rain, when the parking space turns into a ‘pond‘. Concerns have also been raised that ongoing sanitation and drainage issues are making the environment uncomfortable for staff and the public alike, particularly those who must visit the offices there. Download the TOI App.