Kalpetta: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has issued a stop memo for all preparations for the Sunburn Festival on New Year's Eve, citing illegal constructions. 

The District Collector, who is also the chairperson of DDMA, informed the Kerala High Court on Friday that the stop memo was issued on December 18 for all the illegal constructions carried out by Boche Bhumiputra Pvt Ltd on the plantation near Meppadi.

The High Court had recently expressed concern over the conduct of the music festival at a place close to the Mundakkai-Chooralmala villages, where more than 300 persons were killed in a devastating landslide on July 31. The court was responding to a plea by two Wayanad residents. They had also filed a complaint with the Collector. 

The affidavit clarified that no permission was granted to conduct any New Year programmes at the venue. Referring to the complaint submitted to the District Collector by the petitioners, the affidavit said that the said complaint was forwarded to Meppadi panchayat secretary, Vythiri tahsildar and District Police Chief for inquiry and to initiate necessary action as per law.

According to the affidavit, Vythiri tahsildar noted illegal construction at the site without the panchayat's permission. The Collector also told the the court that tea bushes were uprooted to widen the road in the plantation and the soil removed from the area was dumped in the nearby swamp.

The affidavit said the scheduled event could create traffic blocks and hardships for the residents. The Collector said that the large gathering during the programme could also create law and order issues. The affidavit was filed through special government pleader Adv C E Unnikrishnan.