It's another tourist season at Varkala, yet the recommendations of the Centre for Earth Science Studies for the protection of the natural seaside cliffs from rapid slumping remain on paper. The share government seems to have turned a blind eye to the threat to life and property, and also the tourism industry. Varkala cliff has been sliding down at a fast rate in the last 40 years, threatened by south-west and north east monsoon, weathering of the slope and geotechnical instability. You can see large boulders sitting ditched from the cliff, waiting to tumble down once the foot s gone due to sea erosion. Since 1967 , the shoreline adjacent the cliffs of weak laterrite rocks have retreated by nearly 25 to 50m. based on the investigations carried out in the area, CESS scientists had proposed a Landuse Control Plan to contain the cliff top edges from slumping.For the long-term stabilization of the cliff, a three-stage action plan had also been proposed. Terracing of the cliff section based n the geo-technical properties of the different layers, artificial generation of beach in the toe-region of the cliff by beach nourishments, submerged breakwater and other location specific coastal engineering structures and regulation of the two small streams to flow into a freshwater swimming pool on the landward side of the beach were the major recommendations. The other major suggestions were a bio-fencing in the cliff-edge, 2-metre walkway adjacent ti the fence, non-mealled pavements so that only auto rickshaws can ply, a buffer zone for all future developments and water-drains in addition to the exiting water pipes. None of the recommendations have been implemented in this fames tourist destination and instead of bio-fencing, the cast-iron fence has rusted out, a fall from which can only mean a plummet to death.
The New Indian Express, 9th November 2008
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