The foundation for a museum of international standard - Kolkata Museum of Modern Art - for an understanding and appreciation of art among people, was laid today by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
"Kolkata is the cultural capital of India. The golden era of Bengal is returning in various fields -- in cinema, music and art and culture," Banerjee said at the programme.
"I hope KMOMA will add a feather to revive the glory of Kolkata as a centre for art and culture," she said.
She said the state government would provide all help needed by KMOMA to implement the museum project.
There was some problem for the project involving three or four farmers which Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim and local MLA Sabyasachi Dutta were asked to look into, she said.
"I want to see Kolkata neat and clean. I want to see the city to be clean and green," she said, adding if she noticed anything to the contrary, instructions were given to set things right.
Actress Sharmila Tagore who was the patron of the project thanked the state government and the chief minister for supporting it as an "active partner".
"I am the the grand niece of Abanindranath Tagore and for that I have the legitimate right to be the patron," she said.
KMOMA Managing trustee Rakhi Sarkar complimented the Chief Minister saying that since she assumed responsibility she has been "striving relentlessly to re-establish Kolkata's position as one of the cultural capitals of the world."
Estimated to cost Rs 500 crore, the museum has been allotted a 10-acre plot in the satellite township of New Town at Rajarhat by the state government.
KMOMA would be managed by a public charitable trust on the PPP model supported by the state government.
First Published: Nov 14 2013 | 4:54 PM IST
