Anakkulam cultural centre remains idle in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: The Anakkulam cultural centre, the prestigious project of the Kozhikode municipal corporation, which was inaugurated last year, has been lying idle without any programmes being conducted, except a drama camp held some time ago.

The complex, meant mainly for staging drama and related activities, is also equipped to conduct other programmes like seminars and workshops. The three-floor building has an amphitheatre, koothupura, separate spaces for rehearsal and playwriting, open stage and cafeteria.

The facility, built at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore, was opened on May 31 last year by M.T. Vasudevan Nair without completing the basic facilities. It was alleged that the inauguration was done for electoral benefits and was boycotted by the Opposition, including the ward councillor.

Theatre activists and connoisseurs said that the stages in the complex are congested with poor seating arrangements that blocked the view of the artistes on the stage for top-seated people. The corporation has also not fixed the rent for the facility.

The then mayor Prof A.K. Premajam had expressed helplessness over the matter saying that the ground- level work, including design, was finalised during the term of the earlier council. The electrification of the centre was done five months after the inauguration during the two week-long administrative rule under the district collector.

Town planning standing committee chairman M.C. Anil Kumar said that the council had constituted a committee, including prominent cultural activists in the city, to plan the functioning of the centre. "We will soon fix the rent," he added.