PANAJI: Stating that the Goa Institute of Film Technology (GIFT), proposed to be set up at the old Goa Medical College building by M/s Fargo Estate Ltd, a Delhi-based estate developer company, is nothing but a ploy to gift away the heritage building to this company,

the chairman of the sub-committee constituted by the Entertainment Society of Goa to look into the adaptive reuse of the edifice and the general secretary of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Vishnu Wagh said that he would make all efforts to ensure that the building is not gifted to anyone, by overlooking the report of the committee headed by him.
It may be recalled that the sub-committee report had recommended keeping the heritage structure in public domain, while it was put into adaptive reuse.
Mr Wagh further said that though there are few individuals on the governing council of the ESG, who support the choice of M/s Fargo Estate Ltd for setting up a film school in the old GMC building, there are several members of the governing council who would support him in his efforts to save the heritage building from falling into the hands of a estate developer company, which has absolutely no experience in setting up or running a film school.
Mr Wagh also said that M/s Fargo Estate Ltd was selected to set up a shopping mall cum art and heritage destination in the old GMC building, a project which was later shelved.
“Now, how can one come out with this argument and justify handing over of the heritage building to the same company, for another project, without even floating any tender or Expression of  Interest,” he questioned.
“And if a film school or an institute of film technology is to be opened in the heritage building, then the decision is almost absurd as today, the film technology has become digital, and such school needs premises with special conditions,” Mr Wagh observed, stating that it would be much wiser to construct a separate building for the film school, instead of carrying out related restructuring of the old GMC building, and making it lose its character.
Meanwhile, the president of the Goa branch of Indian Medical Association, Dr Shekhar Salkar said that it is not the concept of the film school, which is objectionable, but the manner in which it is done. “Once we had already objected to M/s Fargo Estate Ltd for its intention of opening a shopping mall in the heritage building, and now the same company strangely comes up with an idea of opening a film school,” he observed, pointing out that the choice of the same company as well as the secretive manner in which things are being done, create an atmosphere of doubt.
Dr Salkar also said that the old GMC building should remain in the possession of the department of health, and must not be transferred to the ESG, as it is much safer in the hands of the department of health.
“In fact, a delegation of the Goa branch of the IMA will soon meet the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat and request him with the same,” he informed.
Mr Gurudas Kamat, a member of the media and entertainment advisory committee (MEAC) set up by the government and headed by the renowned filmmaker, Mr Shekhar Kapur told this daily that the MEAC meetings, at no point of time had finalised about setting up of a film school at the old GMC building.
“In fact, Mr Shekhar Kapur was interested in getting an entertainment policy chalked out for the state,” he informed, pointing out that further meetings of the MEAC were not held for reasons best known to the CEO of the ESG, Mr Manoj Srivastava.
Mr Kamat also termed the film school project as a scam – a mini IPL - in the making for last 18 months, in which a top official of the ESG was expected to get a cut.
Supporting the recommendations of the sub-committee to look into the adaptive reuse of the old GMC building, Mr Kamat further said that he has already intimated the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat about the corruption behind the film school project.
Incidentally, the corruption angle to the film school project fits in the information that a senior filmmaker from Mumbai had approached the Chief Minister and the Speaker of the legislative assembly, who is also a permanent invitee on the governing council of the ESG, and complained about kickback being demanded from him for his involvement in
the film school project.