Tourists beware: Varkala cliff under landslide threat, parking banned and vehicle entry restricted

Thiruvananthapuram: District collector Anukumari has ordered the ban on parking at the helipad and restrict vehicle entry to the pathway to the north cliff to prevent further incidents of landslides, reports Manorama Online. She has instructed the district tourism promotion council and Varkala municipality to submit a report within a month regarding the measures taken to ensure the safety of the visitors. The collector sought an immediate report following Manorama’s report about the landslide that happened again near the cliff helipad due to heavy rains on Saturday. Besides, the collector had also summoned a meeting of the officials from the geology department, DTPC and Varkala municipality. The officials noted that mudslides were constantly happening at the northern parts of the cliff from the helipad area, called the North Cliff due to heavy rains.

Speculations on safety wall
Meanwhile, rumours have been rife that the safety wall built using bamboo, sticks and iron mesh near the cliff pathway isn’t safe enough. A warning board has also been placed near the entrance to the North Cliff. Entry of both vehicles and pedestrians has been restricted here. Meanwhile, the collector has been receiving complaints regarding this too. After recently encountering mudslides, the district collector had instructed to restrict vehicle entry to the cliff pathway. Besides, she has also urged the officials to take strict action against a few hotel and resort owners in the North Cliff for releasing wastewater into the open.

Why is Varkala Cliff fragile?
According to experts, the cliff isn't made of hard, consolidated rocks, and its basement rock is around 40 m under the formation. “It tends to erode in our tropical, humid climate and monsoons. It is imperative to reduce the weight we mount on the cliff. While we can't do anything about the existing buildings, we can at least avoid further constructions," GSI Deputy Director General (Kerala Unit) V Ambili told us a few months ago. The Balimandapam here is also quite close to the sea. "The bathrooms and toilets near it were constructed after demolishing a part of the cliff, and therefore, the area will tend to cave in during monsoon season," said Ambili. To protect it from disruptions, at least 600 m from the edge should be made activity-free, she said