A film city in Goa !

| 06 January 2001 22:25 IST

With the underworld in Mumbai making it difficult for the Bollywood to function peacefully, Goa is planning to provide an alternative - a Film City in the tourist state.

A proposal, mooted by some Mumbai-based film makers, is expected to be discussed at the cabinet meeting on Monday.

The demand has been echoed several times in the past, especially at the time of state film festival here, while the government had also assured to think about it positively.

Goa has otherwise been one of the favourite destinations nowadays for film shootings, as Kashmir has become a risky location. Not only the idyllic beaches or old houses with Portuguese architecture along the western belt but even the interior forest, greenery and waterways have attracted several film directors here.

But there are hardly any facilities available locally, including the professional services and hi-tech equipment. In fact Goa does not produce a single film, except few video films, locally.

"We plan to provide state-of-the-art studio and all the necessary infrastructure at the Film City", says industries minister Shaikh Hassan, who has taken the proposal seriously.

He is eyeing a plateau at Keri, admeasuring around 13 lakh sq mts, near the temple town of Ponda taluka. The site has been lying idle since the proposed controversial Nylon 6,6 project was shifted from here five years ago.

In order to raise funds and maintain it, Hassan plans to set up the Film City Development Corporation. People interested in having its studios here will have to either buy a piece of land or have it on lease, he adds.

The lush green Keri plateau on the banks of river Mandovi, which could have polluted the area with nylon threads, would be now weaving the silver screen, provided the proposal takes off.

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