Kekta klears the klutter!:))

A week ago the area in and around Balaji Telefilms studio situated in the lush green Aarey Milk Colony was a mess.

A huge array of multi-coloured costumes, huge thermocol props, plastic sheets, food packets and other materials that were used on the sets while shooting the famous 'K'-brand of serials were strewn around littering the green zone.

But now the studio premises as well as the surrounding area have undergone a massive clean-up operation. Balaji Telefilms has finally decided to become eco-friendly, following a report in DNA on September 13, about the dumping of garbage by Balaji Telefilms in Aarey Milk Colony.

Five truckloads of garbage were promptly removed from the area, said locals who had earlier complained to this newspaper.

"Garbage piles in at least four different spots in the sprawling grounds have been cleared. We are finally breathing clean fresh air, without inhaling the stench of rotting garbage. The mosquitoes too have vanished," said an elated resident Vivek Thakurdas, 18, pointing to clearing where a huge pile of thermocol props had been dumped earlier.

"Officially, Aarey Colony has been declared as a green zone. I have complained to the Aarey-Sub police station, near Chota Kashmir at least three times in the last two years," said Raju Bali, a resident.

"Complaints to about the garbage to Balaji Telefilms, the BMC and to the authorities at Aarey Colony used to fall on deaf ears. No action was ever taken till the matter appeared in the press," added 27-year-old Yogesh Malvankar, whose family has been residing in Aarey Colony since the last 40 years.

"Now if only they would also do something about the noise pollution at night," added Sushma Thakurdas, Vivek's mother.

Apparently, the marriage sequences shown in the serials are all shot at night to the beat of loud dhols and disco music.

"Will someone inform them about the Supreme Court's 10 pm deadline against noise pollution?" asked Sushma.