Kurla Landslide Kills Seven as Relocation Delays Face Scrutiny
A fatal landslide at Chirag Nagar in Kurla on Wednesday claimed seven lives, raising serious questions over the Maharashtra government's delayed relocation policies for vulnerable hillside settlements across Mumbai.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny over safety measures for residents living in landslide-prone urban pockets. Following the 2014 Malin landslide in Pune district and the 2023 Irshalwadi tragedy, the Maharashtra government had announced a comprehensive action plan to permanently relocate citizens living in high-risk areas across the state.
Under the central government's National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping programme, conducted by the Geological Survey of India, vulnerable sites were mapped nationwide. Using this data, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation identified 74 vulnerable landslide-prone areas in the city, with a significant concentration located in and around Kurla and Ghatkopar.
According to details shared by RTI activist Anil Galgali, the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board recommended over ten years ago that 9,657 out of 22,483 slums situated in landslide-prone zones needed priority relocation. The board had also proposed constructing retaining walls around hillsides to safeguard the remaining settlements. Galgali stated that no concrete action has been taken on these recommendations for years.
State government officials acknowledged that preventing fatalities in urban landslide zones requires relocating residents from high-risk spots, even when individuals resist moving. Officials cited a lack of available land nearby and the need for strong political determination and strict enforcement as major hurdles to relocating families.
Vinita Vaid Singal, principal secretary of the state relief and rehabilitation department, stated that area-specific action plans are already in place and are being carried out by respective local authorities. Singal confirmed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is set to submit a detailed report on the Chirag Nagar incident on Thursday, after which the department will decide on further steps. She noted that while officials attempt to persuade residents to move to nearby locations, securing land in adjacent areas remains a major challenge.
Makarand Jadhav-Patil, minister for relief and rehabilitation, announced that the department will soon formulate a new state-wide policy to rehabilitate people residing in landslide-prone areas and those impacted by natural calamities. However, Jadhav-Patil clarified that primary authority for handling such areas within Mumbai remains with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
