The Uttarakhand film policy 2015 has been implemented with various aims in consideration like facilitation of infrastructural development for film production, attracting investment from private sector, employment generation and encouraging regional films.
A single-window system has been facilitated to enable swift clearance for film shooting in the State. Permission for filming in forest area should be issued in seven days of application. Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s industrial advisor Ranjit Rawat said this while chairing a meet regarding the effective implementation of the State’s film policy.
He directed the principal chief conservator of forests Srikant Chandola to ensure that permission for filming in forest area is granted within seven days in addition to which a nodal officer should be deployed at the headquarter level. Rawat said that an attempt has been made through the film policy to increase employment opportunities for the local artistes. Provision has also been made in the policy to revive closed cinema halls. The State Government will also facilitate the screening of documentaries and movies made at the local level. For this, permission will be granted for screening of such films and documentaries in vacant buildings. Under the film policy films produced and to be screened in Uttarakhand have been given rebate in entertainment tax in addition to which movies in regional languages are to be encouraged. Rawat said that Uttarakhand has to be developed into an important centre for film production through measures like planned development of new filming locations and establishment of a film city.
Information secretary and chief executive officer of the Uttarakhand Film Development Council, Vinod Sharma informed that the State’s film policy is aimed at developing Uttarakhand as an attractive location for film making. He said that till date applications seeking permission for filming in the State had been submitted by six film production houses. Of these, four of the applicants had been granted permission for shooting. These production houses include enterprises based in Mumbai, Delhi and Uttarakhand, added Sharma.