Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 14: It has been nine months since the dreadful landslide happened at Pachanady dumping yard where the garbage from the city gets accumulated. Twenty-seven families living at Mandara which were evacuated from there and shifted elsewhere are yet to be rehabilitated. Even though another rainy season is round the corner, the people are ye to get compensation for the agricultural land they lost. The invasion of coronavirus infection has worsened the situation further, as the officials have no time to attend to these people now.
After the stockpile of waste at Panchanady slid down on August 6 last year, 27 houses were completely destroyed while 27 others suffered partial losses. Daviasthana, Nagabana, areca and coconut plantations, and the heritage Mandara House was among those which suffered extensive losses. The families whose houses were totally demolished, have been provided temporary accommodation in the housing board residential complex at Baiturli.
Pachanady garbage dump landslide (file photo)
Some affected families have got compensation for agricultural land while documents of some families were found to be improper. Actual compensation for agricultural land, ponds and wells, houses on converted land etc are yet to be fixed. The leaders who gave promise are silent while officials have been transferred. Mandara Rajesh Bhat from here said that the residents had requested for compensation from officials but there is no response.
Bhat noted that decision on reconstruction of Daivasthana, Nagabana, heritage house etc have not been undertaken and that about ten lac tonnes of garbage which got displaced is yet to be disposed. There is risk of another landslide as rainy season is only weeks away.
The garbage catches fire often and recently areca nut plantations of a few were destroyed in this fire. The government, which promised to pay Rs 10,000 every month to families for family maintenance, paid only for the first month, it is learnt.
City corporation commissioner Shanadi Ajit Kumar Hegde, said that the works will be undertaken and completed before monsoon once the corona-related pressure eases.