The National Green Tribunal on April 6 dismissed the appeal filed by illegal film studios at Madh Island, Malad, Bombay, against a show cause notice issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to them to discontinue operations. The NGT order paves the way for the BMC to take action against the studios. Five of the 11 studios are still to be demolished.
In an order issued on September 6 last year, the BMC chief had ordered an inquiry against unauthorised construction of studios at Madh, Marve, Erangal and Bhati in Malad, Bombay. There were allegations that thousands of square metres of studios were built without proper permissions, using fraudulent documents and by forging permission with the help of BMC and Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) officials.
The NGT, in its April 6 order, said that the order was for construction of temporary studios for six months, after which the place was to be restored to its earlier position.