Raigad landslide: 43 surviving families to get 3,000-sq ft plots

Satyajit Bade, additional chief executive officer of Zilla Parishad, Raigad, and his team who inspected the land (circled)

If all goes well, soon each of the 43 families who survived the Irsalwadi landslide will be entitled to a plot of approximately 3,000 sq feet (3 guntas) on which independent houses of approximately 800-1,000 sq feet will be constructed.

Interestingly, a shortlisted plot measuring an area of 22.34 hectares (55 to 56 acres), a state government land marked for grazing cattle, has been selected for construction. It was inspected by senior administrative officials recently.

Local state government officials hinted that they may require approximately 15-20 acres of land out of the 55-56 acres for the construction of 43 houses, water tanks, sanitation and drainage outlets, school, anganwadi, internal and external roads for the village, streetlights, and a medical dispensary, among other facilities.

NDRF team carrying out rescue operations in Irsalwadi. File Pic

"The district administration has finalised the plot of land for the construction of houses. CIDCO awaits a layout plan from the district collector, which is expected in the next few days," informed Anil Diggikar, Managing Director, and Vice Chairman of CIDCO.

When asked about the funding for the project and construction plans, Diggikar replied that CIDCO would provide the funds, but the construction plan would be decided once they receive the layout plan from the local administration.

Satyajit Bade, Additional Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad, Raigad, mentioned that the shortlisted plot in Nanivali village, Chouk Panchayat, has been agreed upon by the survivor villagers of Irsalwadi, elected representatives, and the state government administration. CIDCO will be the nodal agency for this project, similar to a previous project in Mahad to rehabilitate landslide victims of Taliye village.

When asked about sustainable construction, "It is too early to talk about the design and type of construction, as it will be by CIDCO." And on completion of the construction work within the next three months, as announced by the Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, Bade said, "Collective teamwork will make it workable, as all the stakeholders are working with a common goal on a war footing."

Santosh Thakur, founder president of Gram Sanvardhan Samajik Sanstha

C H Rajput, Assistant Block Development Officer, Khalapur, explained that the selected plot is state government land, free from encumbrances, and immediately available for use. It is convenient for the survivors since they have relatives staying in Nanivali village, and some still have farmland in Irsalwadi. "Some of the villagers in Irsalwadi, were to start the farming of nachni or red millet in two days, but unfortunately by then, the landslide struck the village," he said.

The survivors will be entitled to around 3,000 sq feet (approximately 3 guntas) of the plot each, on which houses of 800 to 1,000 sq feet will be constructed. The village will also have essential facilities such as a school, anganwadi, community temple, health dispensary, livestock sheds, streetlights, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting, to be decided by stakeholders and the district administration during the finalisation of plans, informed Rajput.

The shortlisted place is good

Sunil Parde, one of the survivors, expressed happiness that a place has been finalised close to their roots in Irsalwadi and near their relatives in Nanivali village. However, he was unaware of the size of the house to be constructed. Sunil said, "I along with other survivors from our village were taken to the location, which is finalised, we all liked the place."

No trekking

The local administration clarified that no trekking will be allowed at Irsalwadi Fort due to prohibitory orders and itwill decide on allowing trekkers in the future.

Maintain speed of work

Santosh Thakur, founder president of Gram Sanvardhan Samajik Sanstha said, "My only request is that the speed in which the state machinery is working today, they should maintain the same speed so that the properly constructed houses and other relief, as announced by the state government can be given at the earliest."

District collector speaks

"We have already sent the details to the state government, and we are expecting the approval in the next few days. Once the approval comes, I will again get the plot area measured, and then we will accordingly make the layout of the land, which will be sent to CIDCO.," said Dr Yogesh Mhase, Collector, Raigad.