Raigad landslide: ‘Irsalwadi was not notified as vulnerable site for landslides’

A local woman speaks to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

The hilly hamlet, Irsalwadi, where landslides claimed 16 lives on Wednesday night was not notified as a vulnerable site by the Geological Survey of India, the state government informed the state legislature on Thursday.

This information was shared by deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar in the lower and upper House, respectively. In a subsequent debate, the Opposition pledged full support to the government on condition that it be kept in the loop on relief and rehabilitation work. Members from both sides were unanimous in measures being taken to protect people living on vulnerable sites on a priority basis.

Gadgil report discussed

Congress member Nana Patole brought up the issue of pending action on the Gadgil report on the Western Ghats. His party colleague, Prithviraj Chavan, said that Madhav Gadgil's recommendations were specifically for eco-sensitive zones, yet he wanted to know whether the affected hamlet was on the landslide atlas that has vulnerable sites mapped. He also demanded to know whether any rehabilitation plan existed.

Fadnavis said the hamlet, which is 60 km from Mumbai, was not reported as a landslide-prone area. He said that instead of identified sites, landslides have hit new sites. The changed rainfall pattern did the most damage, he said, adding that Irsalwadi had never reported landslide episodes in the past.

He shared information about the Gadgil report. "The report was submitted in 2012-13. As per recommendations, the states [governing the Western Ghats] were told to map sites for core and buffer areas. Maharashtra is the only state which has mapped 100 per cent of its area and submitted it to the Centre. Two states have not submitted their reports yet," Fadnavis said.

Jitendra Awhad suggested a long-term plan to rehabilitate people from all landslide-prone areas to safer places where they can be provided with all weather-proof dwellings. MHADA had constructed such dwellings for the residents of Malin village, which was affected by a landslide nine monsoons ago.

Fadnavis said rehabilitation was a tough task because the people were attached to their villages where they have jobs, places of worship and many things that they do not want to leave behind. Yet, the government will make efforts to convince the vulnerable.

CM spends day at site

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde left the city at 6am to travel to the site. Before his arrival, senior ministers Girish Mahajan, Uday Samant, Dada Bhuse and local MLA Mahesh Bande had reached the spot in the wee hours.

Braving the rain, Shinde scaled the heights on foot to inspect the hamlet under debris. Then he came down to the base camp where he was in talks with rescue teams, agencies, Central government, air force officials, trekkers and ensured that the villagers and people involved were provided lodging and boarding.