Ajit Pawar bats for grant to Marathi theatre productions

Mumbai, Feb 18(PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief MinisterAjit Pawar today said theatre productions should be givengrants on lines of that provided for Marathi films.

He issued the directives after meeting a delegationof theatre producers which called on him to discuss problemsfaced by Marathi theatre.

The delegation pointed out that grant for Marathitheatre was not sanctioned due to technicalities whereas filmswere given financial assistance.

Pawar said the government would construct a theatreauditorium in every district and the district planningcommittee should prepare a plan to make provision of funds.

Similarly, the local MLA can part with his MLA DevelopmentFund as well, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He also directed concerned officials to expediteconstruction of an additional theatre auditorium in Nagpur,the state''s second capital.