Will Malin village be relocated?

A decision on whether to relocate landslide-hit village Malin or rehabilitate it at the same place will be taken at a meeting in Pune on Friday. The meeting will be chaired by rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam.

A senior government official said that a scientist from the geological department, who visited the site on Thursday afternoon, would submit a report to the government. Based on this report, rehabilitation and revenue department officials would discuss the future of the village, he said.

Sources in the administration pointed out that since this area had a landslide history (Panchale village in the area had seen the disaster before), it would be advisable to relocate the village.

Friday's meeting would also discuss the pros and cons of relocating the villagers as the administration would have to provide for their livelihood in terms of fertile land. At present, the villagers depend on agriculture or jobs in nearby areas.

Meanwhile, the administration has alerted people in sensitive areas of Pune district about landslides and heavy rains. Resident deputy collector Suresh Jadhav said Panchale and Talamachi Wadi were two other villages particularly vulnerable to landslides.