ABOUT 30 artists residing at the Asiad Games Village Complex have been served eviction notice by the Directorate of Estates for unauthorisedly occupying government flats.
Among the artists are Jatin Das (painter), Shujaat Khan, Wasifuddin Dagar (musicians), Jayarama Rao and Banashree Rao (dancers).
They have been asked to appear before the estate officer on January 18 and 19 for personal hearing, failing which the case will be decided ex parte.
The artists are not amused. “We were allotted the flats in the mid-Eighties under the ‘eminent artist quota’ by the Culture Ministry to enable us to pursue our creative activities. The Urban Development Ministry can’t keep sending eviction notices like this,” said Das.
On Tuesday, 12 artists met Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy to present their case. Anil Baijal, secretary, urban development, said, “The Culture Ministry has to make a note before the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, which has to take the final decision.”