Raigad landslide: Ignored 2015 letter haunts village

Kamlu Changu Pardhi 63 who survived the recent landslide with his younger son and family laments the loss of five family members including his grandchildren and all their possessions He recalls ldquoOur letter sent in 2015 to the Raigad district collector went unheeded and now we suffer the consequencesrdquoThe 2015 letter written on behalf of Irsalwadi villagers warned of potential landslides similar to July 2014 Malin landslide Bhimashankar in Pune and urged the administration to relocate them to a safer area Tragically this premonition came true in 2023 and local activists criticise the lack of action back thenMallu Nirguda President of Adivasi Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti left Kamlu Changu Pardhi 63 right Santosh Thakur founder president of Gram Sanvarhdan Samajik SansthaMallu Nirguda President of Adivasi Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti Raigad said ldquoThe problem faced by the tribals and Adivasi people is because the state government in 2014 dismissed the District Level Committee DLC a body under the leadership of tehsildar and district collector who had to look into the welfare of the tribals but unfortnately till today the committee is in dorment staterdquo He emphasises the need for permanent rehabilitation rather than temporary measures and also talks about similar risks in many other tribal villages in MaharashtraAll were asleepJadgish Pardhi who lost his mother daughter brother sisterinlaw and nephew in the landslide they were all sleeping in the house Recalling the devastation he shares ldquoWe found our entire village buried under mud and slush losing our house and livestock in no timerdquoTook loan for tractorKamlu also reveals that he lost the money he had borrowed to buy a tractor for his farm and also some gold jewellery When asked about the 2015 letter ldquoI remember that a letter was sent in my name for the rehabilitation of entire Irsalwadi villagers but I do not know what happened after that it was long ago I am not in a frame of mind todayrdquo he saidThe letter sent to the collector by the residents of Irsalwadi in 2015 right The reply of the collector in 2015 to the letterExcerpts from the letterSantosh Thakur founder president of Gram Sanvarhdan Samajik Sanstha reads excerpts from the 2015 letter stating the letter was dated June 25 2015 and it was addressed to the district collector and typed in Marathi A court fee stamp of Rs 10 was affixed to it The letter was written on behalf of Irsalwadi villagers and a name Sadanand Moghan Hambir was handwrittenldquoIrsalwadi is under the Chouk gram panchayat located at a height of 10 km or more on the foothills It is highly vulnerable to landslide situations similar to what occurred in Malin village near Bhimashankar on July 30 2014 where 151 people and 300 livestock were killed We fear a similar incident can happen here in Irsalwadi Therefore keeping in mind the future of Irsalwadi including childrenrsquos education habitation and livelihood we earnestly request you to move the villagers out of the existing location and rehabilitate us to a plot on survey no 27 Additionally we have attached the 712 property card extractrdquo A month later the district collector responded directing an inquiry by the subdivisional magistrate PanvelInquiry a mustThakur demands a thorough investigation into the mishap holding the concerned officials accountable for neglecting the villagersrsquo safety He points out that despite subsequent requests for roads in 2019 no action was taken resulting in more lives lostOther sideA district revenue official admits to being aware of the 2015 letter but confirms that no timely action was taken Dattaray Nawale the present Sub Divisional Magistrate Panvel said ldquoI took charge in 2019 and therefore unaware of this particular letter of 2015rdquo2015Year letter was written