The Congress government had, in 1993, sanctioned 5.2 acres of land in Film City, Goregaon, for an LKA centre, but the Shiv Sena-BJP government decided to have an independent Akademi at Ravindra Natya Mandir.

The LKA, an autonomous organisation formed by Government of India for development of the visual arts, namely, painting, sculpting, ceramics, and graphics, provides several opportunities to artists.

Apart from being a platform for exhibitions, it offers facilities like studios to paint, foundries to sculpt, furnaces for ceramics, funds to hold exhibitions and print catalogues, a well-equipped artlibrary and an art emporium for sale of art works.

The LKA also organises workshops, offers fellowships/scholarships and brings internationally acclaimed exhibitions. ``Denying LKA to artists is denying them growth,'' said painter Vijay Belgavde.

Artists feel that if the state government provides a centre of the LKA, all it would have to do is give land and bear 50 per cent of the civil construction expenses. ``Why not take advantage of the infrastructure available, instead of starting something new?'' asked Belgavde.

Cultural Affairs Minister Pramod Navalkar, however, said he had loftier plans for the new Akademi, which he wouldn't reveal now. But when the Akademi will be launched is unclear, though the Ravindra Natya Mandir's building has been under renovation for quite some time.

``The government has not understood artists' needs. Two rooms in Ravindra Natya Mandir can't make up for the facilities and the environment the LKA offers elsewhere,'' said Belgavde. Navalkar ruled out the sanctioning ofland to LKA in Film City. ``We have a larger plan for the land in Film City, and are looking at people who have the money and the experience to invest in it,'' he said.

The LKA has chapters in New Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Lucknow and Calcutta. It is conspicuous by its absence in the Western region, including Rajasthan, Goa, Daman and Diu, besides Maharashtra. ``I have to go all the way to Bhopal's Bharat Bhavan to work. The LKA is a must if art in Mumbai is to get anywhere. Most of the art galleries in Mumbai are occupied by out-station artists,'' said national award-winning painter, Dattatray Padekar.

Only unity among artists can stop the government from bulldozing its way, according to Delhi-based sculptor Shankhu Chowdhary, senior member of the LKA. ``Unfortunately they're not united any more. Senior artists in Mumbai have stopped agitating for their rights after they got quotas of plots in Kalanagar, Bandra,'' he told Express Newsline.