Kishan seeks land for regional centre of Sangeet Natak Akademi in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The Central government plans to set up a regional centre of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in Hyderabad and has sought a 10-acre plot of land in the city from the state government.

In a letter to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Union minister for culture and tourism G. Kishan Reddy said Telangana endowed with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, “is a bridge between northern and southern India as a home to several elements of syncretic intangible cultural heritage”.

One of the mandates of the Akademi is to preserve and promote this intangible cultural heritage expressed in forms of music, dance, and drama, of which Telangana has many forms.

Kishan Reddy said the ministry of culture intends to set up a regional centre of the Akademi in Hyderabad, adding that such a facility would be the first in the two Telugu states. The proposed centre, he said, will promote research and documentation of music, folk and tribal arts, theatre and puppetry, and the centre will also have a library, documentation centre, and an auditorium for performances.

In his letter, he requested allocation of 10 acres of land for the proposed centre “in the heart of Hyderabad”, adding that the Akademi will develop the facility into a leading cultural space. Kishan Reddy said if the state government can allot land with some existing structures and buildings, that would expedite the setting up of the Akademi’s regional centre in Hyderabad.