Ustad Amjad Ali Khan music school project is still on

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state government had not decided to revoke the permission granted to sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan to start an International School of Music at Veli here. A high-level meeting convened by tourism minister A.C. Moideen had on October 5 decided to cancel the grant of land.  The Chief Minister told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government would extend all help to the sarod maestro.

He said it was a matter of pride for the state to host a music school run by one of the country’s greatest talents. However, he did not say where the government planned to house the school.  Tourism Minister A.C. Moideen said the grant of land was cancelled due to problems in the registration of the school. Registered under the Travancore-Cochin, Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, the school has Soorya Krishnamoorthy's residence as its address, the minister said.

Krishnamoorthy is joint secretary of the school’s executive committee. A Cabinet sub-committee is studying the issue as the government wanted clarity on it, the minister said. The school was to come up in two acres within the 25-acre Veli Tourist Village. Amjad Ali Khan, during his visit to the state, had said that the school would follow the gurukal system, and would have residential facilities for the students.