The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of the deteriorating condition of Varkala cliffs in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.
The Original Application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item dated October 30, 2024.
As per the news item, the Varkala Cliffs, a designated national geo-heritage site since 2014, are facing unprecedented threats due to rampant environmental violations and administrative oversight. The 7.5-kilometre stretch of ancient cliffs, dating back 5.3 million years, stands as a testament to geological history but is now at the centre of a conservation crisis due to unchecked development and questionable administrative decisions.
The news item highlights that the most alarming violation was the controversial step of demolishing part of the cliffs, supposedly to prevent landslides.
It states that the Geological Survey of India termed the demolition “shocking” given the site’s immense geological and geomorphologic significance.
Furthermore, it is asserted that the violations extend far beyond this single incident. There has been extensive unauthorized construction along the cliffs, including restaurants, resorts, parking lots, and even a helipad. The Geological Survey of India has explicitly identified these unscientific construction activities and slope modifications as primary factors contributing to slope instability.
The news item alleges that these developments not only violate the site’s heritage status but also directly threaten its structural integrity. The construction activities have particularly damaged the critical top laterite layer of the cliffs, exposing the vulnerable sandstone beneath to accelerated weathering processes.
The article asserts that the cliffs serve as crucial aquifers and natural water harvesting systems for coastal communities, host unique biodiversity in their microhabitats, and support underwater reefs essential for local fishing communities. The unauthorized construction and modifications are disrupting these vital ecosystem services. Moreover, the destruction of natural drainage patterns and vegetation cover has made the cliffs prone to erosion and landslides, especially during intense monsoon periods.
The Principal Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, Arun Kumar Tyagi Judicial Member and Dr A Senthil Vel, Expert Member has observed that the matter indicates a violation of the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Biodiversity Act, 2002.
The NGT has impleaded several respondents, including the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Geological Survey of India, National Center for Earth Sciences, Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority, and the District Magistrate of Thiruvananthapuram.
The tribunal has directed the respondents to file their responses by way of affidavit before the Southern Zonal Bench of the NGT.
The matter has been transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench and is listed for hearing on January 10, 2025.
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