The ongoing season of the popular reality show Bigg Boss Kannada 12, hosted by superstar Kichcha Sudeep, has been thrown into immediate jeopardy after the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) ordered the immediate closure of its custom-built studio premises in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district. The drastic action, initiated with a notice issued on October 6, stems from serious violations of environmental regulations at the production site.
The closure order has come just as the twelfth season, which premiered on September 28, was beginning to gain momentum, leaving its production in an abrupt standstill and sparking significant uncertainty among fans and industry insiders.
Environmental Norms Flouted
The KSPCB’s notice, issued to Vels Studios and Entertainment Private Limited (Jolly Wood Studios & Adventures), directed the company to cease all activities immediately. The primary violations cited include operating the large-scale entertainment and studio facility without obtaining the mandatory Consent for Establishment and Consent for Operation under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Upon inspection, the board uncovered several critical discrepancies:
- Untreated Wastewater Discharge: Officials found that wastewater generated on the premises was being discharged directly into the surrounding environment without any form of treatment, posing a serious contamination risk.
- Non-Functional STP: While the studio claimed to have installed a 250 KLD-capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), inspectors observed that the facility was uncommissioned, unconnected to the drainage system, and effectively non-operational.
- Improper Waste Management: The premises lacked scientific methods for handling and segregating solid waste, with disposable paper plates, cups, and plastic waste being dumped unscientifically near the STP area.
Enforcement and Legal Action
To enforce the directive, the KSPCB has taken swift measures, instructing the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) to disconnect the power supply to the premises. The Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagara District has also been directed to seize the unit.
Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed that the studio had not applied for or obtained the necessary environmental licenses, despite being issued prior notices by the KSPCB Regional Office in Ramanagara in March and June of 2024. Failure to comply with the closure order is warned to attract penal action under relevant environmental laws.
Uncertainty for Season 12
The closure has cast a long shadow over Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12. The show, currently in its second week of broadcast on Colors Kannada and JioCinema, is now facing a mandatory production halt until the studio premises are brought into full compliance with all environmental regulations.
As the production team for the popular reality series engages in immediate discussions with authorities to resolve the environmental compliance issues, fans are left to wait for an official statement on when, or if, the drama inside the Bigg Boss house will be allowed to resume. Local environmental activists have also staged protests outside the studio, demanding strict adherence to pollution control measures.
