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In the aftermath of the Irchalwadi landslide incident, officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Cell along with a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted a precautionary survey in some landslide-prone areas in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai.
According to civic authority figures, there are 74 landslide prone areas in Mumbai, which are natural hills and elevated plots.
Of these, 37 are located in Korla, Mankhord, Ghatkopar, Vikroli, Kangurmarg and Mulund in the eastern suburbs.
The slopes of these hills contain slums and shacks, and during the monsoon season, the steep rise poses an imminent threat to the people who live there.
On Thursday morning, civil officials visited several locations in Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Kurla to proactively study any possible situation such as landslides. Officials said that some buildings that appeared to be in a dangerous condition had been evacuated by them.
“After heavy rains, we searched these areas. A few apartment buildings were evacuated at Park Site in Ghatkopar (East) where nearly a hundred people stayed in the hillside slums. Heavy rains increase the possibility of mudslides. Therefore, our aim is to remove all structures that can fall into the avalanche line,” Gajanan Pillali, Assistant Municipal Commissioner told Indian Express on Thursday.
Bilal said the National Dispute Resolution Fund has been kept on standby as a precautionary measure and temporary housing arrangements have been made for those living in these vulnerable areas.
Civil officials said that during the survey, tree roots in the areas were also examined to predict the chances of any tree collapse incident as well as finding traces of loose soil or possible rockslide movement.
Every year, before the monsoon season, BMC officials visit landslide-prone areas at ward level and conduct awareness campaigns. Most of these slums and shacks were erected on the land of the collectors, said the civic officials, and thus, the civic body had no power to evict them.
“On Friday, we will carry out a similar campaign in the western suburbs. The Disaster Cell has alerted all ward offices to conduct inspections at landslide-prone sites that are currently within their jurisdiction,” said an official from the Disaster Cell.
In the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) report, released in the first half of 2022, it was mentioned that landslides caused by rainfall are a common phenomenon in Mumbai given the complex topography and the heavy amount of rain that this place records.
In August 2021, two landslide incidents were reported in Mahul and Vikruli which claimed 29 lives.
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