ABMCM President demands Rs 50 crore for Marathi film city

Kolhapur, Dec 30 (UNI) Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal (ABMCM) President Ajay Sarpotdar has demanded Rs 50 crore budgetary provision in the State Government's up-coming budget for the renovation of the ''Chitranagari'' (film city), Kolhapur.

Speaking to the media, here today, Mr Sarpotdar said that he has already met State Finance Minister Jayant Patil in this connection and submitted a detailed project reports about the film city's present condition and stressed for urgent need of it's renovation.

In his reports he appealed State Government that the film city project should be developed in three phases; studio, make-up room, water, electricity in first phase, required locations like railway platform, police station, bungalows, multi-purpose hall, garden in second and third phase, which total project budget will be about Rs 300 crore.

Maharashtra Government had set-up the Kolhapur Chitranagari project 15 years ago on 75 acre land at city's outskirts near Morewadi but this project as it stands today in the shape of a forlorn condition, he said and pointed out that the project completion is necessary for a healthy growth of Marathi Film Industry.

Marathi film productions is improving as large number of people engage themselves in Marathi film productions and current in the year, about 85 films got censor board certificates for release, which is a good single Marathi film industry he said and added that this proves the importance and urgency for Kolhapur film city project completion.

The idea behind this project was to provide a much needed boost to flagging fortunes of Marathi film-making.

Referring to the rumors that the film city land has been allotted to private party, Mr Sarpotdar said that ABMCM will oppose any such move, it will not allow it in any circumstances since the land is marked for film city only. State Government has recently appointed Sanjay Patil as film city Managing Director (additional charge), who is presently Managing Director of Goregaon film city Mumbai, he said. Mr Sarpotdar added that Mr Patil is very well-knowledge about the film city development and he will discharge his duty positively in film city Kolhapur's development.

UNI