BENGALURU: Artistes and activists who are part of Rangabhoomi Kriya Samiti protested before the Town Hall on Wednesday demanding revision of rent for the renovated hall.
The protesters panned the BBMP’s decision to increased the rent to 1.25 lakh after the Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall was reopened on April 9. D R Rajaram, president of the Samithi, said, “The Palike has commercialised the iconic hall and poor artistes have to suffer.” He said a copy of a memorandum demanding affordable rents has been submitted to BBMP Commissioner
G Kumar Naik.
Sashidhar Adapa, a theatre artiste, said the purpose of Sir Puttanna Chetty handing over the hall to the BBMP has now been defeated. “Puttanna Chetty wanted to see cultural events but not at the cost of commercialisation,” he said.
Rates to be Relooked
Commissioner Naik said a committee that had been formed to chalk out the rates had felt the amount just. “But given the protests from artistes, I will ask the committee to relook the rates and also compare with other halls like Ambedkar Hall, Kannada Bhavan and Ravindra Kalakshetra.”
He also said following the renovation, the Town Hall has an improved sound and light system, better seating facilities, a revamped stage, green rooms and toilets.