Bhubaneswar, June 7: Orissa government has initiated the process of getting post facto approval from the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) for the forestland on which the Kalinga studio, a government-owned facility for film production and television programmes, stands.

A senior government official said: “After Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh had come down on the state government for not following environmental norms while clearing projects, Orissa decided to apply for land approval before going for investment in the studio.”

Recently, the Orissa Film Development Corporation (OFDC) had approached the government to include private investors for the studio’s development. “As the chief secretary had come to know that the studio stood on a forestland, he asked officials to initiate the process of getting approval before heading for a joint venture,” an official said.

Confirming this move, additional secretary of the industries department and managing director of the corporation D.P. Mohanty said: “Steps have been initiated for getting central approval. A meeting with the Khurda district collector is over and order has been issued to the tehsildar to take steps in measuring lands and initiate the process. The proposal for approval will be submitted to the ministry soon.”

The Kalinga studio was set up by the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation Limited (IPICOL) in the 80’s for Rs 39lakh. It is spread over an area of 25 acres on the outskirts of the city. Out of the 25 acres, 15 are falling under forestland and the rest under revenue land. However, the revenue land has been cited as forestland. The land is adjacent to the Chandka–Damapada sanctuary.

Mohanty said after the central approval is obtained, the state government would go ahead for a joint venture. “Massive funds are required to refurbish the studio. The joint venture will be done in a transparent manner with the corporation having its own stake,” he said.

However, corporation chairman Muzibullah Khan said he would oppose any move for complete privatisation of the studio. In another development, the state film fraternity has appealed to the government to save the studio.

Eminent film-maker and former minister Prashant Nanda said: “When it was launched, all of us from the film fraternity were proud and happy that we had a set up in Orissa that will help us make films without having to visit other states. The equipment, lights, recording theatre, were available there. But slowly, bad maintenance and even the behaviour of the authorities at the corporation became intolerable. It will only survive if the government takes an interest to restore it.”

Film-maker Nirad Mohapatra said: “Since the beginning, the authorities have never sought any advice from film technicians on how to maintain the studio. The facilities that used to be there are damaged now. If the government and the corporation do not take steps to save the studio, Orissa will never dream of a proper film-making facility ever again.”