Hundreds of trees on HMT forest in Peenya cut illegally for Yash-starrer ‘Toxic’: Minister Khandre
Bengaluru: Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has alleged that hundreds of trees that were on the land owned by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Peenya were cut illegally for the filming of the movie ‘Toxic’, starring Yash.
Stating that satellite images had displayed the HMT site, which was forestland, Khandre said that he had instructed Forest Department officers to take legal action against the guilty parties in the matter. The minister also paid a visit to the site on Tuesday for an inspection.
Khandre, who had earlier accused HMT of illegally selling the forestland to government and private institutions and that non-forestry activities were now being carried out the land, said that the forestland was sold to Canara Bank recently and a massive set for the movie ‘Toxic’ was erected after axing hundreds of trees on the site. He reminded that cutting trees on forestland without official permission was a punishable offence.
The minister said that the authorities had to verify if the permission granted followed regulations. He also clarified that granting permission as per regulations would attract disciplinary action on the government official who permitted the axing of trees, but strict action would have to be taken against all the responsible parties if the trees were cut without permission.
Supreeth, Executive Producer of KVN Productions, which is making the Yash-starrer, said that the site was private property and insisted that the company had not violated rules while making the movie. A thorough scanning of the property and all the necessary documentation work had been carried out in February 2024. The company was waiting for a report from Forest Department to challenge its claims, Supreeth added.
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RR beat RCB by six wickets in IPL
Guwahati (PTI): Blistering fifties by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel powered Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL match here on Friday.
Sent in to bat, RCB rode on a fighting half-century by skipper Rajat Patidar (63) to post 201 for 8.
Virat Kohli (32), Romario Shepherd (22) and Venkatesh Iyer (29) also chipped in with useful contributions.
In reply, Sooryavanshi (78 off 26 balls) and Dhruv Jurel (81 not out off 43 balls) shared a 37-ball 108-run partnership for the second wicket to set the platform. Krunal Pandya (2/30) tried to bring them back with back-to-back wickets.
But Jurel, in the company of Ravindra Jadeja (24), completed the task with another 68-run stand, with two overs to spare.
For RR, Jofra Archer (2/33), Ravi Bishnoi (2/32) and Brijesh Sharma (2/37) took two wickets.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 201 for 8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 63; Jofra Archer 2/33, Ravi Bishnoi 2/32, Brijesh Sharma 2/37).
Rajasthan Royals: 202 for 4 in 18 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 78, Dhruv Jurel 80 not out; Krunal Pandya 2/30, Josh Hazlewood 2/44).
