KMC adopts resolution to purchase Jayprabha studio

Kolhapur, Jun 29 (UNI) The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC), at its general body meeting, today adopted a resolution to purchase the city's Jayprabha Studio and urged Maharashtra government to reconsider its earlier decision in this connection.

The Jayprabha Studio issue was on the agenda at the meeting for discussion and the KMC urged the State government to withdraw its earlier decision in favour of Studio owner melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.

During the discussion, presided over by Kolhapur Mayor Ms Sai Kharade, many corporators stated that the KMC had unanimously resolved on December 18 last year to reserve the studio land for multipurpose cultural centre and a garden taking into consideration citizens' sentiments involved in the Studio in memory of film-maker late Bhalji Pendharkar.

Then KMC House unanimously resolved to purchase the studio and through another resolution urged government to withdraw its earlier decision that went against KMC.

Senior corporators Sunil Modi, Udhay Salokhe, Sanjay Pawar, Sunil Kadam, Jayant Patil among others participated in the discussion.

They charged that the State government had rejected KMC's earlier resolution on May 18 this year under pressure from Ms Mangeshkar.

Both resolutions would be forwarded immediately to the State government for necessary action.

The Jayprabha studio, situated on 11 acres in the city, was founded by Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj in 1934 under the banner Kolhapur Cinetone. Later, it was purchased by filmmaker late Bhalji Pendharkar, who eventually handed it over to Ms Mangeshkar.

About six months back ms mangeshkar sold around seven acres of the land for commercial development despite KMC's resolution to reserve the land for multipurpose cultural centre. The move of Ms Mangeshkar was opposed by citizens through various agitations resulting in controversy on the issue.

UNI