Mounesh Viswakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jul 7: Three labourers were buried alive due to sudden mudslide at Farangipet near here on July 14 last year. Memories of three deaths, which occurred during the construction of a private building, continue to linger in the memory of the people. Now, three more houses in the same locality face prospects of meeting similar fate.

Because of heavy downpour experienced in the region since the last some weeks, soil of the hillock there is becoming wet and loose. The soft mud is sliding bit by bit now. If this landslip continues, these three houses are sure to crash downhill.

Three lives were lost in last year's incident, which had occurred during the construction of a private building behind Pudu gram panchayat office. While the deaths themselves came as a shock, three houses which are located above the area which suffered landslip faced fresh danger of crashing. With increase in rain intensity then, the families living in these houses had survived scary moments which stared down at them day in and day out. District deputy commissioner and other officials representing the district administration had promised to make alternative arrangements.

The families clung on to the hope that these promises would be fulfilled. However, over a year since, nothing has been done. The locals rue that the officials of the district administration who had done precious little other than providing a tarpaulin cover to the spot of the landslide, have never cared to attend to the problem lever since.

Houses of Abusali, Zulaika and Siddique are in extreme danger because of the soil of the hillock which is sliding down at a slow pace now. As the connecting road too crashed during the landslide, these family members have no other option but to cross over the spot where the landslide had occurred. In addition to the grown-ups, small children accompanying them are at high risk. These families which live in abject poverty, live under the constantly lurking fear.

These families have been urging the officials to ensure that they get justice, rather than exercising the easier option of serving notices asking them to vacate the houses. They have requested the concerned not to ask them to leave their abodes, even if the government officials are unable to provide them alternative housing. They have also demanded for punishing the gram panchayat officials because of the carelessness of whom the locals are suffering.

Abusali, who is one of the affected persons, says that those who promised to provide them alternative residences, had not come back thereafter. He laments that no one is listening to their grievances and they have no other option but lead a hellish life.

Tahsildar of the taluk, Purandar Hegde, said that the local gram panchayat has been instructed to continuously keep vigil on the houses which are facing danger and to build protective wall to avert further landslides by making use of panchayat grant.