Buddhists strongly oppose allotment of land to Vizag Film Nagar Centre

Visakhapatnam: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) leaders and activists of various Buddhist organisations under the banner of Buddhist Monuments’ Protection Committee staged a protest at Thotlakonda on Sunday, opposing the government’s action of allotting 15 acres of land for construction of Film Nagar Centre.

It may be mentioned here that a stone was laid to the Film Nagar Centre atop Thotlakonda recently for which HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and noted actor as well as president of Movie Artistes’ Association Rajendra Prasad attended. The Minister assured of all help from the government to those who build studios here to develop film industry. However, the JAC leaders led by its convener Kottapalli Venkata Ramana staged a protest after conducting Trikaranams and Panchaseela (Buddhist prayers) at Thotlakonda.

Addressing the protest camp, Venkata Ramana found fault with the government and the local Minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, for allotting the land for Film Nagar Centre at an area of archaeological and Buddhist importance. He demanded that the government cancel the allotment forthwith. He threatened the government that they would not allow the Film Nagar Centre to come up. and also condemned the proposal of constructing various entertainment clubs on an important Buddhist site which was recognised by the Indian government long back as a Buddhist spot.

He blamed the revenue officials for showing the land under Survey No 314 as two survey numbers to make them easy for allotment to the Film Nagar Centre. He demanded that the government allot land at the Ramanaidu Film Studios on the Beach road or at some other area but not atop Thotlakonda.

Later, Venkata Ramana told The Hans India that it was very unfortunate to allot the most auspicious land of 15 acres atop Thotlakonda to Film Nagar Centre, which is equivalent to the Hindu temples of TTD and Simhachalam. The government, instead of protecting the Buddhist spots including Bavikonda and other monuments by developing the same, had been indulging in commercialising the site much against to the Buddhists and Non-Government Organisations.

Former Energy Secretary and founder of Forum for Better Visakha E A S Sarma and his wife Rani Sarma who were fighting to protect the areas of archaeological importance like Erramatti Dibbalu, also opposed allotment of land for Film Nagar Centre damaging the very sentiments of Buddhist monks.

Venkata Ramana informed that even today many foreign researchers visit and do research about Thotlakonda and Bavikonda areas since plants available there possess high medicinal values and submit papers. “Earlier too, we had opposed the Congress government which has allowed the Indian Navy to lay a road passing through Thotlakonda and it was stopped later with our protests,” he recalled.If the government goes ahead with its decision, the committee would intensify its agitation involving all other organisations, he added.