Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Dec 12: As what can be termed as immediate pitching of FDI, a 40 years of handful experience in cinema industry, a Mexican based multiplex ‘Cinepolis’ with the five screen multiplex started its operations on Saturday at fourth floor City Center Mall on K S Rao Road, Hampanakatte, here.
 
Briefing the reporters at a press conference held on Tuesday December 11, Devang Sampath from Cinepolis said that thorough a research conducted prior to the commencement of the multiplex in city, the potentiality for multiplex business was studied and the venture was moved ahead.

Detailing the exclusive features of Cinepolis he said that the multiplex since 40 years have premiered 10,000 movies and through using advanced applications like facebook, polling will done in the facebook page and based on customer preference movie will be played which the audience want, be it regional, Bollywood or Hollywood movies. In any of the seats the audience sits, the movie angle is not disturbed.
 
The press meet was organized by M/s Mohtisham Complexes Pvt Ltd jointly with CREDAI, Consulting Civil Engineers Association and Architects guild, The M D of Mohtisham, S M Arshad detailed the various hurdles faced by the promoters in getting the Mall operational. Dharmaraj said that technical issues were tackled as now the mall has received door numbers for the shops, water supply from MCC and permanent power supply from MESCOM.
 
For the legal operation of a mall with multiplex the approval from the district magistrate as per Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Act and rules thereof was also approved.
 
Arshad added that all the No Objection Certificates obtained by the applicant, except that from MCC. MCC was to give its opinion and approve the plans as per the provisions of KC (R) Rules. Since MCCs objections were not related to the provisions of the KC (R) Rules, the NOC and license for cinemas were issued by the district magistrate.
 
He also stated that the cinema license was issued only after the applicant got NOC from the FSD for the whole building. Initially the applicant had only obtained the certificate from FSD as per rule 34 of K C (R) Rules, which was the only requirement from FSD, but the district magistrate refused to issue license for the cinemas stating that he could not consider the certificate issued by the FSD for the cinemas alone when the FSD had refused to issue the revised NOC for the whole building, since the cinemas was part of the whole building.
 
Arshad added that since the FAR and other Zoning Regulation issues applicable to the building is not dealt in the K C ( R) Act and rules thereof, the license from the city corporation was also applied for, as per the provisions of KTCP Act and KMC Act. However while applying any of the rules of these Acts, the provisions made under K C (R) Act and rules thereof or the approvals given under those rules should not be overruled.
 
An application for revised license for the building is pending with MCC for its consideration. He explained that NOC from the fire service department (FSD) was obtained on January 25, 2007, before the license was issued by MCC on April 4, 2007. While issuing the license, MCC had put a condition in the license to abide by the recommendations of Tor Steel Research Foundation of India (TRFI), which was appointed by the district administration and MCC to study the feasibility of implementing the condition of FSD to lower the setback area to Zero level and also recommend the provisions to be made to arrest the land slide of light house hill on the south east side of the property.
 
Arshad explained reporters on the background of media reports that TRFI recommended not to lower the setback area with motorable slope. TRFI also provided details of the construction of the retaining wall structure on the south east corner of the property connecting the ‘City Centre’ building and the building in the neighboring property ‘Utility Towers’. Accordingly the ramp and retaining wall structure was constructed by the promoters.
 
Unfortunately, FSD preferred to ignore the recommendations of TRFI and informed the DC of DK district and MCC on June 18, 2007 that it was withdrawing the NOC issued to the said building since the condition of the NOC was not being fulfilled by the applicant.
 
Arshad stated that the promoters made many representations to FSD against the unilateral decision to withdraw the NOC.
 
After all these, contentions of the promoters were discussed during the various meetings held in the office of FSD and finally FSD decided to get a legal opinion from the law department. FSD finally revoked the cancellation of NOC issued on January 25, 2007 and issued certificate as per rule 3A of Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Rules 1971 and also issued revised NOC for the building.
 
District magistrate issued Cinema License, based on the technical opinion given by the Town Planning Member of MUDA that there were no violations in the building.
 
Arshad also said that the revised license from MCC is also expected soon.

D B Mehta, vice president CREDAI, Vijay Vishnu Mayya, president ACCE among others were present at the press meet.