PUNE: The Ambegaon tehsil administration has allocated two acres of safe land for 34 tribal families residing in the Pasarwadi hamlet of Malin village to build new homes.
This village, perched on the edge of a hill, faced soil cracks last year, raising concerns about potential landslides. The community remains anxious following the devastating landslide in 2014 that claimed 151 lives.
Ambegaon’s Tehsildar, Sanjay Nagtilak, stated, “The new land is safe and appropriate for building houses. We will provide financial assistance through state and national welfare schemes, and we will also seek CSR funds to support the residents in home construction.” Authorities have assured residents that water and electricity services will be available.
Digambar Bhalchim, former sarpanch and resident of Pasarwadi, remarked, “Relocation was necessary due to heavy rains. Recently, a large boulder fell on the road from the area with cracks, leading to concerns about internal damage. Villagers are fearful of another disaster. The allocation of land plots has brought significant relief to us.”
Officials from the tehsil administration reported that following the Malin tragedy, the Geological Survey of India conducted thorough investigations and identified areas at risk of landslides, including Bendarwadi, Kalwadi I, Kalwadi II, and Pasarwadi, recommending relocation for their residents.
“Around 250 families had to be moved to safer locations. This year, the Pasarwadi villagers are set to relocate. Eighteen families have already received homes under the Gharkul scheme. Construction will begin after the monsoon season,” another tehsil official added.
The new site is located two kilometers from the previous one. “The land was finalized with the villagers’ consent, and the acquisition process took over a year, which is why we couldn’t move them before this year’s monsoon,” Nagtilak explained.
Villagers and local activists stressed the need for essential services in the new hamlet. “We experience severe water shortages during the summer. Tehsil officials should build an overhead tank to ensure year-round supply,” said Vijay Lembhe, a Malin activist.
Budhaji Damse, president of Shaswat, an NGO focused on tribal communities, emphasized the importance of constructing a community hall, schools, and other facilities at the new location.
