J-K govt plans news amphitheatre in Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to come up with a new amphitheatre adjacent to the the Abhinav Theatre here.
Minister for Finance, Haseeb A Drabu today said this while inspecting the renovation work at the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) complex and Abhinav Theatre which is all set to be thrown open for the artists soon.
Drabu asked the officers of JKAACL to chalk out plan for setting up an amphitheatre adjacent to the Theatre and make optimum use of available space and resources.
While reviewing the works, the minister directed the concerned officers to start the landscaping work in the complex, highlighting local cultural diversity, besides, properly displaying all the sculptures and artefacts in the complex.

The cultural contours should be kept in mind while making pathways and seating arrangements, he said.
The minister said that an open-air theatre will act as a parallel stage for the artists and it should be equipped with all the ultra-modern facilities and minimum concrete work should be done to keep the natural contours intact.

He also discussed the proposed site and plan of 'Writer's Club' in Jammu with JKAACL's Secretary, Aziz Hajini and stressed that the already raised structures should be utilised properly.
The minister said that he wants to make Abhinav Theatre and Tagore Hall, the nerve centres of cultural and literary activities in the state.

Drabu was shown a specially-designed entrance gate for facilitating the entry of VIPs directly to the main stage of the auditorium.
He was also informed that the audio, light and air- conditioning system installed in the ground floor of the theatre had developed some defects due to flash-floods.