The Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) and the Kalinga Studio have been functioning sans the prescribed number of board members for the last six years resulting in various types of mismanagement, particularly financial irregularities.
Sources said only six members are now looking after the corporation against the prescribed norm of 15 while only five members are running the show at the Kalinga Studio against the prescribed 15. Due to the absence of adequate board members at these Government-run institutions, many staffs, including top brasses, have been availing crores of rupees on various heads without any substantial benefits to the institutions.
“A top brass of the OFDC has taken crores of rupees as taxi charge while the vehicle he rides bears an Asoka leyland bus number. Officials have demolished a video complex constructed at a cost of Rs70 lakh in 2000 at the Kalinga Studio without any valid reasons,” said a former OFDC and Kalinga Studio Managing Director, Pradyumna Mishra.
The Government’s apathy was evident from the unchecked indulgence of the OFDC and Kalinga Studio top brasses in rampant corruption in connivance with each other, alleged Mishra. “A total of Rs2.50 crore was granted for renovation of the Kalinga Studio in 2013-14 financial year. But as the work order has been granted to the Odisha Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), studio officials have intentionally surrendered Rs1.5 crore to the Government in March,” stated Mishra.
Alleging that no development work was done by the OFDC for promotion of film and Odia culture in the last one decade, Mishra said, “During my tenure as OFDC MD between 1978 and 89, around 130 cinema halls were constructed across the State. Though around 50 theatres were damaged in the 1999 super cyclone, no step has been taken to renovate them.”
Maintaining that mismanagement and corruption has rendered the two institutions dysfunctional, Mishra urged the Government to conduct an impartial probe into the irregularities. “The studio initially did well. Producers even from Bangladesh and West Bengal came here to shoot their films. But the studio gradually lost its sheen and public confidence,” rued Mishra, adding that though the High Court has issued notice to the OFDC authorities a few years ago acting on a petition filed by him, the authorities are yet to comply with the same. However, he welcomed the undergoing development work at the studio being undertaken by the Idco.