Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 11: Days after the Karnataka high court passed an interim order directing Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) to pay adequate compensation to the persons who lost their houses, land and crops due to slippage of garbage dumped at Pachanaday landfill during rains in 2019, MCC with the intervention of district Legal Services Authority (DLSA) disbursed interim compensation to the victims on Thursday, February 11.

It may be recalled that on August 6, 2019, a massive pile of garbage dump slid at Pacchanady due to the incessant rains, causing grave damage to crops and property. Huge portion of land, along with the garbage dump slid down to the agricultural area at Mandara near Pacchanady resulting in damage to houses and acres of agricultural land. The locals suffered distress after several acres of their agricultural land was damaged completely due to the unfortunate incident.

On Thursday, as many as 44 beneficiaries were identified for the interim compensation.

Speaking during the occasion, judge and DLSA member secretary AG Shilpa said, "The credit should go to the honorable high court. There is judicial pro-activism in the interim order of the honorable court. Following the interim order by the court, the interim compensation is being disbursed.

"As this is interim compensation, the city corporation will also take a decision on providing additional and final compensation in the coming days. Only after receiving the final compensation will you have to handover the possession documents and title deed," Shilpa said.

Stating that the wait of garbage slide victims to receive compensation will finally be over, she said, "I panicked when I saw the scene in the area. After obtaining the documents from MCC, a report was submitted to Karnataka Legal Service Authority (KLSA). On the basis of the report, KLSA filed PIL in the court.

"Later, in the meeting organised with the DC and corporation commissioner, it was asked to provide justified adequate compensation to the victims, as many have lost their land, crops and houses in Mandara, Panchanady, and the surroundings areas.

"Officers also responded well in this regard and took the necessary decision. DLSA is working to provide legal service, awareness and look after that victims may not face legal hurdles. They have also agreed to allow them in quarters of Karnataka Housing Board till they get additional and final compensation," she said.

Karunkar, one of the beneficiaries of interim compensation of garbage slide, speaking to media said that the administration has provided an interim compensation of Rs 7 lakc for his 14.5 cents of land, which was destroyed following in landslide. "There is 3.5 acres of agricultural land which belongs to me and my 6 brothers. As the garbage wastewater entered the land, it is very difficult to cultivate it. Still, I said that I was not ready to part with this land. However, the authorities should clean the land so that it becomes fit for cultivation."

Initially, MCC provided Rs 2.5 lac for the crop loss, he said.

Panel legal advisor Chandrahas, corporator Bhaskar Moily, corporator Sangeeta R Nayak and others were present.