Residents of PRS Lake Villa Flats near Good Shepherd School in Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram, have been ordered to vacate the premises following a landslip allegedly caused by unscientific soil excavation on the school campus.
District Collector Anju K S, who also chairs the Thiruvananthapuram District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), issued the order on Tuesday, directing the immediate relocation of residents and the suspension of all construction activities on the school campus until the threat to the apartment complex is fully addressed.
The directive was issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, based on reports from the departments of Geology and Soil Conservation, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Public Works Department (Buildings) and the tahsildar.
According to the reports cited in the order, the landslip occurred just four metres from the apartment complex, completely damaging a retaining wall and causing major cracks. The road in front of the flats has also suffered a landslip measuring approximately 50 metres in length and 15 metres in height, raising serious concerns about the safety of residents and the stability of the surrounding area.
Inspections reportedly found that excavation work on the school campus was being carried out without adequate safety precautions. The reports also noted that a retaining wall required under the building permit conditions had not been constructed.
The Thiruvananthapuram tahsildar, the Corporation secretary and the District Police Chief have been directed to take the necessary steps to relocate the affected residents. The secretary or president of the flats’ residents’ association must submit a list of families requiring relocation to the Cheruvakkal village officer.
Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No. 1 Radio Station, understands that the school authorities have also been instructed to arrange alternative accommodation for the affected families to ensure their safety during the relocation process.
The school management has been directed to take urgent temporary measures to stabilise the landslip-affected area and prevent further soil movement. All construction activities on the campus must remain suspended until permanent remedial works eliminate the threat to the apartment complex.
The school authorities must submit a detailed proposal outlining the temporary and long-term measures required to prevent further landslips. The proposal will be examined by the PWD Buildings wing, the Corporation, the Soil Conservation Department and the Mining and Geology Department before approval.
The Corporation secretary has also been directed to verify whether the construction complies with the approved building permit. Meanwhile, the district geologist must determine whether the quantity of soil excavated exceeded the permitted limit.
Both officials have been instructed to initiate legal action wherever necessary, depending on the findings of their inspections.
The evacuation order highlights the urgent need to address the safety risks posed by the landslip, stabilise the affected area and ensure that all construction and excavation activities comply with the required safety standards before work can resume.
