The Gujarat government has accepted a proposal made by chief whip Balkrishna Shukla to build an open-air artisan fair with an amphitheatre in Vadodara. The government approved the proposal sent by Shukla in June to turn the now-deserted Diamond Jubilee building, located near Polo Ground, and a property of the Cottage and Rural Industries Department of the government of Gujarat.
Shukla requested permission from Minister Balvantsinh Rajput in a letter dated June 26 to establish Vadodara Haat on the 65,000 square foot government property where the now-demolished Diamond Jubilee structure once stood. Rajput was in Vadodara to preside over a function and inaugurated an exhibition ahead of National Handloom Day.
In his letter, Shukla said, “The Commissioner of Cottage and Rural Industries has premises called Diamond Jubilee at Rajmahal Road in Vadodara, which was earlier used as a cottage industries institute. It is necessary that these premises be put to use to create a theme-based space where handlooms and artisans can attend workshops to tune their skills and market their art while citizens can boast of an attractive space in the city.”
Shukla has also listed eight potential uses for the area, including workshops, an amphitheatre for cultural events, a facility centre and dormitories for artisans, stalls where artisans could sell their products, and a good stall serving and promoting popular regional fare from Gujarat.