Minister for Forest, Environment, and Ecology B. Eshwar Khandre
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has said that it is mandatory to obtain government permission before commencing filming in forests in Karnataka.
In a letter to the Forest, Ecology, and Environment department’s Additional Chief Secretary, dated January 20, Mr. Khandre has said that it is mandatory to obtain government permission for any filming activities in forest areas, including for movies, documentaries and television serials.
He said that prior to granting permission for filming, the prescribed fees should be collected by the respective Deputy Conservation Forests (DCF).
He added that it has been recently noticed that local-level authorities are granting permission.
“Due to this, there is a possibility that the confidential information about forest areas could be exposed to the public, and this poses a risk to the environment and biodiversity,” he added.
The Minister has issued the order in the backdrop of film crews allegedly misusing forest land while filming.
The Kantara case
Earlier this week Mr. Khandre said that the film crew ofKantara: Chapter 1 allegedly violated the conditions of shooting while filming at the Gavi Betta in Heruru village and the surrounding areas in Yeslur range in Sakleshpur of Hassan district.
Last year, he alleged, the makers of Yash-starrer Toxic axed hundreds of trees on forest land in Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) premises at Peenya.
Published – January 24, 2025 01:14 pm IST
