PANAJI:  The Goa State Information Commission has issued two notices on the public information officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa, Mr Rohit Wadkar and the first appellate authority of the ESG, asking them to appear before the Commission for a hearing on July 26, at 10.30 a.m., with regards to the second appeal filed before the Commission by the winner of the state film award and noted Goan film maker, Mr Augie D’Mello.

Mr D’Mello informed ‘The Navhind Times’ that he had filed an application under the RTI Act on December 28, 2009 to ESG seeking information about the tender procedure followed during the International Film Festival of India 2009, and cultural performances held during IFFI 2009. “The public information officer did not respond to my applications, which made me file an appeal before the appellate authority of the ESG on February 26, 2010,” he informed, adding that since the appellate authority also did not respond to his application, he was forced to move to the State Information Commission.
Mr D’Mello further drew attention to the fact that some members on the tender committee for the IFFI 2009 were direct owners of the companies/ agencies, which were bidders for IFFI 2009. “This was in blatant violation to the guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission of the central government,” he maintained, pointing out that the Central Vigilance Commission vide an order no 71/12/05, has given clear direction regarding transparency to be maintained in the tendering process and has advised that the members of the tender committee should give an undertaking at the appropriate time that none of them has any personal interest in the companies/agencies participating in the tendering process.
“The Central Vigilance Commission further directs that any member having interest in any company should refrain from participating in the tender committee,” noted Mr D’Mello, quoting  the order of the deputy secretary of the CVC, Ms Anjana Dube.   
It may be recalled that the leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar had pointed out similar anomaly in the tender committee of the ESG, constituted for the IFFI 2009. Mr Parrikar had even alleged that the member secretary of the governing council of the ESG had manipulated minutes of a meeting, which was shown as being convened  on August 26, 2009, at 5.30 p.m., but was actually never held. The opposition leader had also brought the alleged fraud to the notice of the state legislative assembly maintaining that the ‘meeting which never took place’ decided about the 5-star festival hotel for IFFI 2009.
Incidentally, a senior Goan film maker, Mr Arnold D’Costa, few days ago had charged that the ESG had furnished him wrong and misleading information under the RTI Act as regards fees paid by the Goan filmmakers to the ESG, for shooting their films in public places around the state.
“I suspect that the ESG officials are afraid to give timely information, as it can bring various skeletons out of the ESG cupboard,” Mr D’Mello said, demanding that it is high time that the film fraternity in Goa take up united fight against the corrupt officials of the ESG.