Govt, OFDC lock horns over Kalinga Studio sports complex

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Bhubaneswar: The state government and Odisha Film Development Corporation locked horns over setting up of a sports complex on the premises of the 25-year-old Kalinga Studio.
The Sports department has requested the General Administration (GA) department to allot vacant land of Kalinga Studio for construction of a sports complex to further the development of sports.
“The government is trying to set up sports complexes in and around Bhubaneswar. It is learnt that a vast stretch of land occupied by Kalinga Studio is lying vacant. Since Bhubaneswar is growing, development of a sports complex at the site will cater to the needs of citizens of the area. GA & PG department may please allot the unutilised vacant stretch of land of Kalinga Studio in favour of Sports and Youth Services department for developing a sports complex at the site,” Sports secretary Vishal Dev has written in a letter to the GA department.
However, OFDC Chairman Munna Khan strongly opposed the move.
“I cannot tell what prompted the Sports department to shoot a letter in this regard. The studio was built to facilitate work related to film production. We cannot spare it for any purpose other than film-making,” Khan said.
As OFDC has planned a lot of projects to revive the film studio, the available land will shrink. “How will we provide land?” he asked.
The Odia film industry also opposed the move. Actor Mihir Das said the studio is providing livelihood to many people and should not be handed over for any other purpose. Das requested the state government not to go ahead with the proposal.
Actress Anu Choudhury also raised her voice against the government, saying: “Not only me, if you ask anybody in our industry, you will hear the same view. It should not be happen,” she said.
The Kalinga Studio was built on an area of 25 acres on the outskirts of the capital city in 1982. Due to the apathy of government, the studio is lying in dire state.