Reconstruction of National Theater could be suspended
If contract on supplying technical equipment to the Latvian National Theater is not signed in the near future and a deposit paid, the theater^apostrofs;s reconstruction could be suspended, Olegs Burovs from the Riga City Council^apostrofs;s Property Department told LETA.
If contract on supplying technical equipment to the Latvian National Theater is not signed in the near future and a deposit paid, the theater's reconstruction could be suspended, Olegs Burovs from the Riga City Council's Property Department told LETA.
The reconstruction schedule is already being amended now, Burovs said, but it may need to be suspended without the ordered equipment. The required equipment includes revolving stage with elevators, an elevator for the orchestra pit, an elevator for stage sets, fire curtain, equipment for metal processing and carpenter's workshops, a paint shop and others.
About LVL 2.6 million is needed to purchase the equipment, which were requested from the national budget, Burovs reminded. The Riga City Council did not allot money for this, striving to reduce the Riga budget's deficit. It seems now that the national budget also does not have the money.
Besides, the Culture Ministry questioned the quality of the Riga City Council's tender on supply of the above equipment. Initially, however, the ministry did not question the tender but requested that the money be allotted from the national budget.
Overall, the National Theater reconstruction costs will amount to about LVL 9 million, Burovs said. LVL 1 million was allotted initially, Riga City Council provided LVL 3.4 million last year, and LVL 1.5 million this year.
The Riga City Council will definitely try to find a solution so that the theater's reconstruction is not suspended, Burovs said. However, the city council cannot do much without raising the Riga budget's deficit. An advance payment to suppliers of the equipment is an option, hoping that the government will later amend the budget and pay the rest of the money. Another option is to employ the strategy used in the construction of the Town Hall - assigning an enterprise of the Riga City Council to do the reconstruction, which could take out a loan in a bank. However, the Riga budget would be involved anyway.
The situation is unenviable, Burovs said. Planning the reconstruction of the State Art Museum is to begin in one month, Burovs added. A part of the funds for the reconstruction plans is to be allotted by the Culture Ministry, but not for the reconstruction itself.
Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars earlier requested Saeima Chairwoman Ingrida Udre to find ways to allot additional funds for reconstruction of the National Theater this year. Udre said this could hardly be done without violating an agreement that the budget's deficit is no longer raised.
Martins Kalaus LETA
Copyright © LETA
The reconstruction schedule is already being amended now, Burovs said, but it may need to be suspended without the ordered equipment. The required equipment includes revolving stage with elevators, an elevator for the orchestra pit, an elevator for stage sets, fire curtain, equipment for metal processing and carpenter's workshops, a paint shop and others.
About LVL 2.6 million is needed to purchase the equipment, which were requested from the national budget, Burovs reminded. The Riga City Council did not allot money for this, striving to reduce the Riga budget's deficit. It seems now that the national budget also does not have the money.
Besides, the Culture Ministry questioned the quality of the Riga City Council's tender on supply of the above equipment. Initially, however, the ministry did not question the tender but requested that the money be allotted from the national budget.
Overall, the National Theater reconstruction costs will amount to about LVL 9 million, Burovs said. LVL 1 million was allotted initially, Riga City Council provided LVL 3.4 million last year, and LVL 1.5 million this year.
The Riga City Council will definitely try to find a solution so that the theater's reconstruction is not suspended, Burovs said. However, the city council cannot do much without raising the Riga budget's deficit. An advance payment to suppliers of the equipment is an option, hoping that the government will later amend the budget and pay the rest of the money. Another option is to employ the strategy used in the construction of the Town Hall - assigning an enterprise of the Riga City Council to do the reconstruction, which could take out a loan in a bank. However, the Riga budget would be involved anyway.
The situation is unenviable, Burovs said. Planning the reconstruction of the State Art Museum is to begin in one month, Burovs added. A part of the funds for the reconstruction plans is to be allotted by the Culture Ministry, but not for the reconstruction itself.
Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars earlier requested Saeima Chairwoman Ingrida Udre to find ways to allot additional funds for reconstruction of the National Theater this year. Udre said this could hardly be done without violating an agreement that the budget's deficit is no longer raised.
Martins Kalaus LETA
Copyright © LETA