Pune District Administration Requests Geological Survey Following Landslides and Cracks

Pune, 2nd August 2024: In response to recent incidents of cracks and landslides on hills in the region, the Pune district administration has sought the assistance of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to conduct surveys in four locations, including one in Lavasa, situated in the Mulshi and Maval tehsils.

Resident Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam formally addressed this request in a letter sent to the GSI office on Alandi Road, Yerawada, on Wednesday. “A comprehensive GSI survey is crucial to implement necessary safety measures,” the letter stated.

The urgency for this survey follows the appearance of cracks on a hill in Lohagad on Tuesday, prompting immediate concern from the local population and the district administration. A senior district official mentioned similar cracks observed last week in Mauje Vegre village, Mulshi, leading to the relocation of five families on Tuesday. Additionally, a landslide near Padalghar resulted in mud sliding up to 3 km towards Bhatghar Dam, necessitating the relocation of five more families to Lavasa on Friday. Fortunately, the affected villages are situated away from the primary sites, preventing the need for widespread evacuations.

“In Lavasa, we have identified five bungalows close to those already impacted by the landslide, posing a significant risk,” a district administration official revealed. This follows the incident on July 25, where two people were feared trapped in a landslide in Lavasa. The search operation, unfortunately, had to be called off after four days due to the continuing risk of additional landslides.

The district collectorate has provided the GSI with the precise coordinates of the affected locations. “We anticipate that the ground survey will be conducted within the next two to three days,” an official stated. Surendra Navale, Sub-divisional Officer of Maval and Mulshi, emphasized that the survey’s results will be critical for making informed decisions regarding potential evacuations.

“With the discovery of cracks 300-400 meters from Lohagad village, there is significant anxiety among the residents. Based on GSI’s recommendations, we will decide whether to move nearby structures and determine if temporarily relocated residents can safely return to their homes,” Navale added.