THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In spite of prohibition orders on construction, human activity on the edge of Varkala cliff continues, triggering landslides that threatens the unique laterite formation. The 6.2 km cliff formed 2.5 million years ago due to the landmass twisting has been in the race to secure a UNESCO geopark status.The Central government had declared it as a geological monument in 2014 but the state government has to conserve it in its original shape to secure the Geopark tag.
As per suggestions of the Geological Survey of India, human activity and construction here should be restricted 50 metres away from the cliff edge. Also, the helipad here has to be shifted and construction has to be stopped at least 50 metres around the cliff’s edge. A special purpose vehicle was created by the government to streamline all development around the area but the lack of priority to Varkala is reflected in the current state of the cliff.
“Even the walkway on its edge is a threat to the cliff. There is vehicular movement here. We had invoked prohibitory order under CrPC section 144 in the past to prevent construction. Our aim now is to disallow new constructions at least 10 metres near the edge of the cliff,” said an official who looks after the conservation. As per the plans, even the stairs that lead from here to the beach will have to be demolished. Tourists will have to be taken to the beach from the cliff using alternate transport like a battery operated vehicle.
During each rain, the water that seeps out of holes on the cliff accelerates the damage to the cliff, say officials. “The basic conservation work at Varkala cliff will be completed in a time-bound manner in the next three years. This includes channelising rain water to the beach through a duct placed away from the edge of the cliff,” the official said. “We plan to conduct paragliding from the hill to the beach,” he added.
