Bhubaneswar: The State Government’s proposed plan to create a sports complex on the unused land at the State’s only movie making facility – Kalinga Studio has sparked a controversy.
Sports and Youth Services department secretary Vishal Dev on Thursday wrote a letter to the General Administration for developing a sports complex inside the film studio complex.
“Government is trying to set up Sports Complexes in and around Bhubaneswar. It is learnt that a vast stretch of land occupied by Kalinga Studio is lying vacant. Since Bhubaneswar is growing, development of Sports Complex at the site will cater to the needs of citizens of the area. It is therefore requested GA&PG Department to allot the unutilized vacant stretch of land of Kalinga Studio in favour of Sports & Youth Services Department for developing a Sports Complex at the site," Dev wrote in his letter.
The move, meanwhile has met with stiff opposition from Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC).
While the studio barely has sufficient space, it will be difficult to give away its land for the development of a sports complex. The studio comes under the jurisdiction of OFDC besides it is linked with the emotion of the entire Odia movie industry. We are not in a position to spare it for any purpose other than filmmaking, OFDC chairman Munna Khan said.
Similarly, noted Ollywood actor Mihir Das also disapproved the proposal of the state government.
"It is very saddening to note that the government has planned to develop a sports complex in the land of the studio. It will be like self destruction of the film industry. Handing it over for some purpose without restoring the ailing studio is unreasonable," Das said.
Kalinga Studio was built on an area of 25 acres on the outskirts of the capital city in 1982. But the lone movie making facility in the State has been reeling under neglect due to lack of proper maintenance over last two decades.
At a time when the production of number of Odia movies is increasing and the movie industry is running on losses, the state government's move to develop a sports complex has not gone well with many as OFDC is trying to revamp the movie studio.
Reacting to the Odisha government's plans for a sports complex on premises of the Kalinga Studio, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today stated that sentiments of Odia artistes are attached with the studio.
"I will discuss modernisation and revival of Kalinga Studio issues with Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani," tweeted Pradhan.
Industries Minister Ananta Das, on the other hand, stated, "He (Dharmendra) is now talking about the development of Kalinga Studio. Where he was before? As the land belongs to the General Administration department, the Chief Minister will take a final call."
Following the controversy, Sports Secretary Vishal Dev made a U-turn today and in a WhatsApp message to journalists wrote, "I am surprised how this letter has been twisted to create an unnecessary controversy. Since the city is growing, we have requested GA Deptt to identify land patches for setting up sports complex and playgrounds in different parts of the city. The letter about Kalinga Studio was also written with the same objective. There has been no decision at the Govt level. It is a simple proposal from our side. GA Deptt gets requests for land from different deptts and agencies."
He further mentioned, "The matter has not even been discussed at Govt level. But we have such mighty people talking about it as if everything has been done."