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, "Our letter sent in 2015 to the Raigad district collector went unheeded, and now we suffer the consequences."

The 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 then.

Mallu Nirguda, President of Adivasi Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti, (left) Kamlu Changu Pardhi, 63 (right) Santosh Thakur, founder president of Gram Sanvarhdan Samajik Sanstha

Mallu Nirguda, President of Adivasi Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti, Raigad, said, "The 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 state". He emphasises the need for permanent rehabilitation rather than temporary measures and also talks about similar risks in many other tribal villages in Maharashtra.

All were asleep

Jadgish Pardhi, who lost his mother, daughter, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew in the landslide, they were all sleeping in the house. Recalling the devastation he shares, "We found our entire village buried under mud and slush, losing our house and livestock in no time."

Took loan for tractor

Kamlu 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, "I 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 today," he said.

The letter sent to the collector by the residents of Irsalwadi in 2015 (right) The reply of the collector in 2015 to the letter

Excerpts from the letter

Santosh 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 handwritten.

"Irsalwadi 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 children's 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 7/12 property card extract." A month later, the district collector responded, directing an inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate, Panvel.

Inquiry a must

Thakur demands a thorough investigation into the mishap, holding the concerned officials accountable for neglecting the villagers' safety. He points out that despite subsequent requests for roads in 2019, no action was taken, resulting in more lives lost.

Other side

A 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, "I took charge in 2019 and therefore unaware of this particular letter of 2015."

2015
Year letter was written