14 hours Ago By Nisha Nambiar
Pune: Three years after a proposal was first submitted to relocate people from four landslide-prone villages in Pune district, state govt is yet to allocate the required funds, leaving hundreds vulnerable ahead of another monsoon.The district administration submitted a Rs63.81-crore proposal to govt — initially in May 2022 for three villages, and later last year for a fourth one — seeking funds to shift the entire communities from high-risk zones in Bhor, Mulshi and Khed talukas.
Despite multiple reminders, officials said the file remains stuck. "A week ago, state govt directed us to submit a revised proposal yet again," a senior district official told TOI on Monday. "This delay is concerning as the monsoon is just weeks away.
"The proposal covers two villages in Bhor (Dhanawali and Kondri), one in Mulshi (Ghutke), and one in Khed taluka (Padarwadi). Officials said they had sought Rs58.46 crore for three of the villages, with an additional amount later added for the fourth.
Officials said the delay has left residents anxious, especially after the Malin tragedy of July 2014, when a landslide killed over 150 people in Ambegaon taluka. "It is essential that families living in these danger zones are relocated. Every monsoon brings fear," said a gram panchayat member from Bhor.
Experts and former officials have blamed bureaucratic red tape for the inaction. "This is a textbook case of delay due to excessive procedures. New committees keep getting formed while urgent proposals lie unattended," said a retired geologist who studied the landslide zones in the Western Ghats.
The relocation process includes identifying safe land, detailed communication with villagers, and provision for new homes and infrastructure. Despite these steps being outlined in the proposal, govt has not moved it forward.With monsoon forecast in the next few weeks, officials admited that no relocation will take place this year.
"At this point, all we can do is hope for a safe season as it is sure that we cannot do anything this season," an official said.No more drills, awareness drives to continuePune district collector Jitendra Dudi has announced that drills related to disaster preparedness will be suspended amid the current ceasefire situation. "There are no drills or war rooms for now.
We will establish them only if necessary," he told TOI on Monday.State has allocated Rs1 crore to Pune district for disaster-related preparedness. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in a meeting on Friday announced immediate disbursement of funds to all districts.
Eight coastal districts were allocated Rs1 crore each, while the remaining ones were given Rs50 lakh each. Officials said the funds may be used for awareness programmes in rural areas and for essential items required during the monsoon.Pune: Three years after a proposal was first submitted to relocate people from four landslide-prone villages in Pune district, state govt is yet to allocate the required funds, leaving hundreds vulnerable ahead of another monsoon.
The district administration submitted a Rs63.81-crore proposal to govt — initially in May 2022 for three villages, and later last year for a fourth one — seeking funds to shift the entire communities from high-risk zones in Bhor, Mulshi and Khed talukas. Despite multiple reminders, officials said the file remains stuck.
"A week ago, state govt directed us to submit a revised proposal yet again," a senior district official told TOI on Monday. "This delay is concerning as the monsoon is just weeks away."The proposal covers two villages in Bhor (Dhanawali and Kondri), one in Mulshi (Ghutke), and one in Khed taluka (Padarwadi).
Officials said they had sought Rs58.46 crore for three of the villages, with an additional amount later added for the fourth.Officials said the delay has left residents anxious, especially after the Malin tragedy of July 2014, when a landslide killed over 150 people in Ambegaon taluka.
"It is essential that families living in these danger zones are relocated. Every monsoon brings fear," said a gram panchayat member from Bhor.Experts and former officials have blamed bureaucratic red tape for the inaction.
"This is a textbook case of delay due to excessive procedures. New committees keep getting formed while urgent proposals lie unattended," said a retired geologist who studied the landslide zones in the Western Ghats.The relocation process includes identifying safe land, detailed communication with villagers, and provision for new homes and infrastructure.
Despite these steps being outlined in the proposal, govt has not moved it forward.With monsoon forecast in the next few weeks, officials admited that no relocation will take place this year. "At this point, all we can do is hope for a safe season as it is sure that we cannot do anything this season," an official said.
No more drills, awareness drives to continuePune district collector Jitendra Dudi has announced that drills related to disaster preparedness will be suspended amid the current ceasefire situation. "There are no drills or war rooms for now. We will establish them only if necessary," he told TOI on Monday.
State has allocated Rs1 crore to Pune district for disaster-related preparedness. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in a meeting on Friday announced immediate disbursement of funds to all districts. Eight coastal districts were allocated Rs1 crore each, while the remaining ones were given Rs50 lakh each.
Officials said the funds may be used for awareness programmes in rural areas and for essential items required during the monsoon..
