Row over nod for New Year event at convention centre

The Kozhikode Corporation’s stop memo to the management of the convention centre near Sarovaram Biopark in the city, demanding to stop the New Year programme there, and permitting it later, has sparked tension.

The stop memo was served by the Corporation secretary to the convention centre management on December 30, 2025, based on a complaint by Sarovaram Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi alleging that it was an unauthorised construction, and that the organisers of the programme had not obtained a PPR licence (licence under the Kerala Places of Public Resort Rules, 1965) from the civic body.

According to the memo, the management had not informed the Corporation of the event, which was subject to entertainment tax. Subsequently, the Samithi had said that it would go ahead with strong protest measures if the New Year programme was organised violating the stop memo.

However, the convention centre management obtained a PPR licence to facilitate the smooth conduction of the programme, thereby rendering the stop memo null and void. The Corporation reportedly issued the licence just hours before the programme started.

“The Corporation should not have issued the licence considering that the building was unauthorised, and that it was constructed on a wetland fill. The convention centre management is fooling the authorities claiming that the Kerala High Court had allowed it to conduct programmes. However, it is far from reality,” said Samithi president Ajay Lal K. said.

Meanwhile, Kozhikode Corporation secretary K.U. Bini explained that the civic body had no rights to deny PPR licence when applied, as the building had all other necessary clearances, such as those from the Fire and Rescue Services department and the State Pollution Control Board. “The programme was being held within a closed space and was technically no disturbance to the public, which were grounds enough to issue licence,” Ms. Bini said.

Mr. Ajay Lal said the Samithi would convey the recent developments to the High Court at the next hearing scheduled for January 5.