Jollywood Studios Moves to Pay Multi-Crore Environmental Penalty After Violations Hit BBK12 Shoot

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Chairman P.M. Narendra Swamy on Sunday said that Vels Studio and Entertainment Ltd., the amusement park where the current edition of the reality Big Boss show is being shot, has written to the Board stating that it will comply with environmental norms and pay Environmental Compensation (EC).

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the KSPCB Chairman said that Vels Studio and Entertainment Ltd. (Jolly Wood Studios and Adventures) had last week written to the Board stating that it will comply with all rules and also pay any penalty for violation of environmental norms.

In October, KSPCB had ordered the closure of the studio in Bidadi Industrial Area, Bengaluru South district, for non-compliance of environmental norms.

The KSPCB issued an order on October 6, stating that Vels Studio and Entertainment Ltd. is an amusement park established and operating without obtaining valid consent from the board which falls under Green Category.

The Big Boss reality show was stopped just 10 days after it began as the studio was sealed following violations of environment rules.

However, the Bengaluru South district authorities removed the seal on the studio on October 9, following Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's intervention.

Shivakumar said the makers of Bigg Boss Kannada need to be given a chance to rectify their mistakes and be allowed to reopen the show.

"First of all, they did not have consent from the Board. Even today, our closure order is in force. But it is for the local administration to make a decision. As the studio has written to us that they will rectify their mistakes and pay the EC, we will discuss and consider the request," the KSPCB Chairman said.

He added that the penalty which the studio will have to pay would be to the tune of several crores of rupees.