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

If all goes well soon each of the 43 families who survived the Irsalwadi landslide will be entitled to a plot of approximately 3000 sq feet 3 guntas on which independent houses of approximately 8001000 sq feet will be constructedInterestingly a shortlisted plot measuring an area of 2234 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 recentlyLocal state government officials hinted that they may require approximately 1520 acres of land out of the 5556 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 facilitiesNDRF team carrying out rescue operations in Irsalwadi File PicldquoThe 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 daysrdquo informed Anil Diggikar Managing Director and Vice Chairman of CIDCOWhen 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 administrationSatyajit 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 villageWhen asked about sustainable construction ldquoIt is too early to talk about the design and type of construction as it will be by CIDCOrdquo And on completion of the construction work within the next three months as announced by the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Bade said ldquoCollective teamwork will make it workable as all the stakeholders are working with a common goal on a war footingrdquoSantosh Thakur founder president of Gram Sanvardhan Samajik SansthaC 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 ldquoSome 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 villagerdquo he saidThe survivors will be entitled to around 3000 sq feet approximately 3 guntas of the plot each on which houses of 800 to 1000 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 RajputThe shortlisted place is goodSunil 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 ldquoI along with other survivors from our village were taken to the location which is finalised we all liked the placerdquoNo trekkingThe local administration clarified that no trekking will be allowed at Irsalwadi Fort due to prohibitory orders and itwill decide on allowing trekkers in the futureMaintain speed of workSantosh Thakur founder president of Gram Sanvardhan Samajik Sanstha said ldquoMy 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 earliestrdquoDistrict collector speaksldquoWe 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 CIDCOrdquo said Dr Yogesh Mhase Collector Raigad