Makers of Yash-starrer ‘Toxic’ court trouble over ‘felling of trees’ on HMT land in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: In trouble for the makers of ‘Toxic’, starring ‘Rocking Star’ Yash, Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has said that trees have been felled on forest land belonging to Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in the city.

Hundreds of trees have been allegedly felled illegally on the land where parts of the movie was shot. The 20-acre plot was reportedly sold by HMT to Canara Bank a few years ago. Satellite images show tree cover on the land a few years ago, but barren now. It is said that trees were cut for the movie shoot where exhibits are also given out on daily rent.

“HMT had rented out the land to some others. When I visited the place two days ago, filming of the movie ‘Toxic’ was going on. When I inquired, they said they were shooting there since a month. They have also given out exhibits on rent illegally. Trees have also been cut and we will take action against whoever is responsible — be it the movie team or HMT authorities. If officials have been complacent, actions will be taken against them too”, Eshwar Khandre told Public TV.

Since the land comes under BBMP limits, the Forest Department will question officials of the Palike’s forest wing. If the BBMP forest wing officials had given permission for chopping of trees, action will be taken against them for allowing felling in forest land. If others are responsible for the tree felling, action will be taken against them, officials said.

The Forest Department officials are taking the help of the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC) to cross-check satellite imagery. The BBMP forest division has also constituted a team to probe the case. If the trees were felled on forest land, then a case will be booked under the Forest Act. If it is private land, then the case will be booked under The Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, the officials said.