No Sunburn Music Festival In Wayanad On New Year’s Eve, Kerala HC Orders Cancellation

Wayanad: The Kerala High Court ordered the cancellation of the Sunburn music festival scheduled to be held in Wayanad that was struck by landslide. The event was scheduled to be held on New Year’s Eve. The order comes after residents of the district filed a case citing illegal construction at ‘Boche 1000 Acres’ in Meppadi, Wayanad.

In its interim order, the court has asked the District Collector, police, and panchayat to enforce the ban on the festival.

The Wayanad District Collector, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority, had also ordered the stoppage of the music festival, raising concerns about the illegal conversion of plantation land near a landslide-prone area, fearing potential risk of disaster. The order was presented before the court.

The local panchayat also stated that no permission had been granted for the event.  The festival was reportedly being organised by Boche Bhumiputra Private Limited, a company owned by businessman Boby Chemmanur. Locals had flagged concerns of illegal construction on the property, which was supposed to be the event venue.

Earlier this year, landslides caused massive devastation and deaths in Wayanad district.