Former chief minister and local MP H D Kumaraswamy intervenes to officially stop work on Sholay-themed resort and decides to hold joint survey of the land.
Former chief minister and local MP H D Kumaraswamy intervenes to officially stop work on Sholay-themed resort and decides to hold joint survey of the land.
Work on Ramgadh Resort has been officially stopped, after former chief minister and local MP H D Kumaraswamy intervened. The government will now conduct a fresh survey of the land before deciding on the matter.
Kumaraswamy conducted a meeting of officials yesterday at the Ramanagar DC office to verify documents relating to the land.
"After studying the documents I could make out some discrepancies in the demarcation," said Kumaraswamy. "Only a fresh survey can throw light on this and till then work will not begin."
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Out of 314.14 acres in survey No. 107 in Ramanagar taluk, Kasaba Hobli, Hallimala village, 255 acres was declared forest land in 1917.
In 1978, government granted 80 acres to SC/ST beneficiaries but part of the land was within forest limits. The notice from the forest department fell on deaf ears.
One Manjunath purchased 6.2 acres of land, where epic film Sholay was shot, from the beneficiaries in 2004 and subsequently sold it to Anantara Hospitality that planned to develop a Sholay-themed resort there.
The forest department intervened to stop the construction work, claiming it fell under their purview.
K Ravishankar, managing director of Anantara Hospitality, said, "It is a fair decision and I hope we get justice.
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If it is proved to be forest land, let them give us alternative land and we will move."
In the meantime, heritage lovers, who pledged to launch a protest to save the land, will meet today to chalk out plans for the planned Ramnagar bundh that would be announced in the first week of next month.
"The decision to stop work and hold a joint survey is our victory," said M Shivananjaih, leader of the protest.
"We will continue to protest till the land is handed over for developing a sanctuary for the long-billed vultures that are naturally habituating there," he added.
255
The acres of land, which were declared forest land in Ramanagar taluk, Hallimala village
6.2
Acres of land to be developed as Sholay-themed resort, but which fell under the purview of forest department
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