BENGALURU: The studio, where the 12th edition of Bigg Boss Kannada is being held at Bidadi in Ramanagara district, was shut on Tuesday. The action came a day after the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) issued closure orders to Vels Studio and Entertainment Private Ltd (Jolly Wood Studios and Adventures), where the reality show was being shot. The regional and head office staffers of the board sealed the place on Tuesday evening.
Amidst tight police security, Bigg Boss shooting was stopped and contestants were taken away from the sets to different locations on Tuesday night.
KSPCB officials from the Ramanagara office said, “Following a public outcry and government directions, the premises have been completely sealed and the Bigg Boss Kannada shooting has also been stopped.” Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the company was issued a notice under the Air and Water Acts.
“I came to know of the notice through media reports. Officials told me that the Ramanagara regional office had issued notices to the company owning the premises twice in 2024. But the company failed to comply with the directions,” he said.
‘Park, studio operating sans valid consent from KSPCB’
Khandre added that KSPCB engineers told him that the sewage treatment plant was not working properly and no permission was obtained to operate and use generator sets. “No one is above law and action has been taken as per environmental rules,” he said.
KSPCB Chairman PM Narendraswamy said, “The studio and park have been closed. The notice was served to the place for not complying with environmental norms and not particularly to where Bigg Boss is being held.”
The KSPCB had issued the notice under Section 31(A) of Air (Prevention and Continuous Pollution Act 1981) of Karnataka Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules 1983 and Section 33(A) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and 1976 to Vels Studio and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, located at Plot No. 24 and 26, Bidadi Industrial Town, Bidadi Hobli, Ramanagara.
According to the notice, the Regional Officer (RO), Ramanagara had inspected the unit on March 19 and June 11, 2024. A show-cause notice was issued on April 8, 2024 and Notice for Proposed Direction (NPD) on June 12, 2024. The RO said the amusement park and studio were operating without valid consent from the KSPCB as the area falls under green category.
The report said, “The waste water generated from different domains is being discharged outside the premises without treatment, polluting the surroundings. The park authorities have provided for a 250 KLD capacity STP, however, no sewer, no inflow to the STP was observed. The STP units were empty and not commissioned. The STP housekeeping staff did not maintain the flow chart. They were also operating DG sets of 625KVA and 500KVA capacities. The solid waste generated was disposed of near the STP in an unscientific manner. Based on these violations the notice and orders were issued.”
Adding to this, officials from the Bangalore Electricity Supply Corporation Limited said power cut notice will be issued to the park, and power supply too will be disconnected as per procedure.
