Bengaluru: The ambitious plan of the state Tourism department to recreate the sets of blockbuster film Sholay in the hillocks of Ramanagara seems to have hit a hurdle as the area is considered a no-development or no-commercialisation zone.

As per reports, commercialisation and tourism cannot be allowed around the hillocks of Ramanagara which was declared as a vulture sanctuary on January 30, 2012. According to the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, a 10-km area around wildlife sanctuaries is declared as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) and hence the same will be considered as a no-development or no-commercialisation zone until there is any official communication by the ministry redefining the ESZ.

After the area was declared as a sanctuary trekking and rock climbing activities in the Ramadevarabetta, a popular abode for trekkers had come to a stop. However while no development will be allowed in this zone, a regulated five-km trek route was opened to cater to the interest of the people by the forest department.

The Tourism Departments proposal to create a 3D village with the latest audio visual equipment and multiple screens at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore under public-private partnership is currently only in its initial stages and no concrete plan has been prepared yet.

It may be recalled that the Bollywood Magnum Opus Sholay was shot here in Ramnagar. The hills of Ramadevarabetta became the perfect den for the dreaded bandit Gabbar Singh in the film while the vicinity was turned into fictional ‘Ramgarh’ for the Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan starrer film.