The Hydrographic survey, for Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) study on the erosion of the 6.1-km-long red laterite cliff overlooking the Varkala beach in the capital district to protect the sedimentary geo-morphological structure, has been completed.
The Department of Ports tasked for the survey will submit the report this week to Vision Varkala Infrastructure Development Corporation (VVIDC) set up by government for comprehensive infrastructure development of Varkala, official sources said.
The report will provide the bathymetry data along the 31 km from Muthalapozhi in Thiruvananthapuram district to Thangassery in Kollam district. The State, a facilitator for the study, had to spent ₹70,000 per km for collecting bathymetry data. The VVIDC will in turn handover hydrographic survey report to the MoES that has commenced the ₹1.82-crore study.
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The study, carried out in association by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Chennai, and the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) Akkulam for recommending shore protection measures to protect the red laterite cliff is to be completed in one year, sources said.
For the MoES study, a beach monitoring system and wave movement study at the Government Nature Cure Hospital premises near the helipad had been set up. Automatic Weather Station has also been installed near the cliff by the NCESS.
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A Wave rider buoy has been deployed at a depth of 20 metre in Arabian sea.
The MoES will come up with a model for a permanent engineering solution to protect the cliff and check erosion.
A model on the lines of the one in Ullal in Kasaragod and in adjoining Puducherry for the protection of the shoreline is likely for Varkala also.