Chief Minister cancels programme over unauthorised nature of venue

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan skips Kozhikode Art Lovers’ Association event due to illegal auditorium controversy, sparking protests.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stayed away from the scheduled inauguration of the golden jubilee celebrations of Kozhikode Art Lovers’ Association (KALA) on Saturday (April 19) after Sarovaram Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi pointed out the illegal nature of the auditorium near the Sarovaram Bio Park where the event was held.

Members of the Samithi had forwarded complaints to the personal assistant of the Chief Minister, District Collector, village officer, and the Kozhikode Corporation secretary, saying that the auditorium management continued to rent out the facility despite a Kerala High Court order citing its unauthorised construction. Meanwhile, Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh inaugurated the event two hours after the scheduled time.

Meanwhile, the Samithi activists staged a protest in front of the three gates of the building, saying that they shall not allow vehicles to be parked in the vast ground beside the building, which, they claimed, was a landfill on the Kottooli wetlands, a proposed Ramsar site.

The Samithi cited the Kerala High Court order dated April 7, 2025, according to which, the Kerala State Wetland Authority, Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority, Kozhikode Corporation, District Collector, and the Vengeri village officer are responsible for ensuring the protection of the wetland and prevention of activities contrary to legal provisions. The court had further directed the authorities to ensure that no unauthorised or illegal activities were allowed in the area in question (Kottooly wetlands and the area occupied by the auditorium). Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and judge S. Manu had further clarified in the order that the authorities should take effective steps, not just serve notices, as the damage caused may result in an irretrievable situation.

The Samithi is planning to file a Contempt of Court petition against the Chief Secretary soon if necessary action was not taken, besides organising protests.