Kumaraswamy intervenes on Sholay-themed resort

Former chief minister and local MP H D Kumaraswamy intervenes to stop work on Ramgadh Resort. Kumaraswamy conducted a meeting of officials at the Ramanagar DC office to verify documents relating to the land. Ramgadh in Ramanagar village on the outskirts of Bangalore is where Sholay was shot.

Work on Ramgadh Resort has been officially stopped.The government will now conduct a fresh survey of the land before deciding on the matter."After studying the documents I could make out some discrepancies in the demarcation. Only a fresh survey can throw light on this and till then work will not begin." said Kumaraswamy.

"The revenue and forest departments will conduct the joint survey and an alternative piece of land will be given to those who are claiming ownership." said an official.

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. Manjunath purchased 6.2 acres of land from the beneficiaries in 2004 and subsequently sold it to Anantara Hospitality that planned to develop a Sholay-themed resort there.

K Ravishankar, managing director of Anantara Hospitality, said, "It is a fair decision and I hope we get justice. 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. "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."The decision to stop work and hold a joint survey is our victory," said M Shivananjaih, leader of the protest.

Ramgarh of Sholay will soon Ramgadh Resort

Gabbar Singh’s Ramgarh will soon become Ramgadh Resort. Ramgadh in Ramanagar village on the outskirts of Bangalore, where Sholay was shot, is facing a fresh threat, 35 years after Sholay released to massive critical and commercial success. Ramanagar, which resounded with the fearsome laughter of Gabbar played by Amjad Khan, is home to several rare species, including the big billed vulture and sloth bear.


Heritage lovers as well as forest department officials are opposing the venture, which is to come up within forest limits. Forest department officials said the spot should have been declared a heritage site. They also said that any development at the site would amount to encroachment on what was forest land."Our map says the 280 acres on which the resort is to come up has been notified as forest land in 1917. No one is even allowed to enter the area," said a senior forest officer.


Ananthara Resorts, a hospitality company, plans to build a commercial resort that will have Sholay as its theme on the location where the epic film was shot 35 years ago. G Ravishankar, managing director, Ananthara Resorts, however, describes forest officials as mafia in uniform. "All they want to do is extort money from us. The title deed to the property is in my name." "They kept mum all these days and suddenly surfaced when we began construction. The forest department is just another name for corruption," added Ravishankar.

Shortly after a complaint was lodged, Acharya allegedly shot a letter warning forest officials to co-operate with resort developers. Chandrashekariah, deputy commissioner, Ramanagar said, "As far as I know, the resort is not being constructed on forest land. If the forest department has any objection, let them prove their point in a court of law. I think there is nothing wrong in building a resort there."

G Ravishankar explained "It will be a stylish resort with 24 rooms, health club, spa and swimming pool on 6.78 acres of land. We will call it Ramgadh Resort. The staff will be seen in Gabbar Singh's uniform. We don't want to undo the heritage of Sholay or hurt the rare vultures on the spot.

According Deepak Arya, a wild life activist, there were around two thousand vultures and now the number is reduced to eleven. There is a proposal to develop a vulture sanctuary and a forest official said it was lying with the secretary, forest department. "We are working on the details of the project. If everything goes well, the sanctuary will be developed shortly," said the officer. "

"Let them develop the sanctuary on remaining land. We will also support them," Ravishankar added. Acharya was evasive when asked about his alleged support for Ananthara Resorts. "Forest officials are known for harassing people. I merely saw to it that the builder was not needlessly troubled by them. I wrote to the forest department because it helps a rightful cause. Moreover, if the resort is on forest land let the department take possession of it."

Source:
Ab, tera kya hoga Ramgadh?- Mid Day
Sholay-themed resort on 'Gabbar land' sparks row-ndtv.com/news