The Kerala High Court canceled the Sunburn music festival in Wayanad over safety concerns related to illegal construction and environmental risks in a landslide-prone area. The court directed local authorities to enforce the ban, emphasizing the necessity for legal permits and adherence to safety regulations. Local residents had previously raised complaints regarding the event.
Kerala: The Kerala High Court has ordered the cancellation of the Sunburn music festival scheduled for New Year’s Eve in Wayanad, citing concerns over illegal construction and safety risks in the landslide-prone area of Meppadi. The event, set to be held at Boche 1000 Acres, drew opposition from local residents, prompting the court to intervene with an interim ban.
The High Court directed the Wayanad District Collector, police, and local panchayat to enforce the cancellation. The Collector, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority, had earlier recommended stopping the festival due to the illegal conversion of plantation land, ongoing construction, and soil extraction near a landslide-prone zone.
A special government pleader informed the court that the Collector’s decision stemmed from the event’s lack of necessary permits and the potential for environmental and law-and-order disruptions. The local panchayat confirmed that no permission had been granted for the large-scale event.
The court rejected claims that the District Tourism Promotion Council had authorized the festival, stating that such approvals do not override the need for legal permissions.
The festival, organized by Boche Bhumiputra Private Limited, owned by businessman Boby Chemmanur, was set to take place on a property flagged for suspected illegal construction. Local residents, including two senior citizens, filed complaints with the District Collector and Disaster Management Authority, raising concerns over the venue’s safety and its compliance with legal norms.
The court emphasized that the event could not proceed without proper legal approval and reaffirmed the importance of adhering to safety and environmental guidelines in landslide-affected areas.
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