As differences rule, proposed ‘Smriti Van’ remains on paper

However, the proposed memorial which would see plantation of 151 trees in memory of the same number of victims affected by the landslide, along with a plaque bearing their names is caught in procedural tangles. “There are some hurdles with the concerned departments — forests and public works — to draw tenders for the job not having consulted with the concerned villagers or the kin of the villagers not giving permission for the land to be used as a memorial. Initially they had shown interest, but later on many of backed out,’’ said an official from the district administration.

While last year, the government had sanctioned Rs 2.49 crore for the memorial and released Rs 1 crore initially to execute the memorial, there is no progress on this front. “The tenders have to be drawn from the two departments and that too has not seen any progress,” added the official.

Meanwhile local MLA Dilip Walse-Patil has not shown any inclination for this memorial and has on several occasions turned it down. Even on the tenth day function held after the funeral of the victims last year, the MLA had said that he does not agree to the memorial at the site.

He had said that the tribal population are known for their determination and they will rise again. While the former tribal department minister Madhukar Pichad had mooted for the memorial, the conflict of opinions only confused the villagers further.

With some of them having the remains of their houses at the site of the proposed memorial, a formal consent was to be taken from the villagers, which has not happened.

Gram Sevak Sanjay Jhanjare said that the villagers are not for such an “expensive smriti van”. “If the administration had just planted trees then it would have been fine other than spending Rs 2 crore for a structure. That would be waste of money. We had suggested in the meetings later with the administration that the land site is not more than two acres and planting of trees will not cost much and the remaining amount can be diverted for either a training centre which could benefit the youth in the village or then have a wedding hall which will draw some tourism in the village,’’ said Jhanjare.

Tukaram Lembe, a teacher too shares the view that a training centre will benefit the youth without formal education who stand gain much more. “If the government wants to rehabilitate the youth then a training centre a little away using this amount would be beneficial rather than see many of the youth take to various addictions,” he said.

Villagers who had to give up their land too aren’t open to the idea. “This place is where our people stayed and giving consent to give up the same is very difficult. We are fine if they planted trees and the land remained in our names,’’ said Shrikant Jhanjare who works at Chakan and has lost his entire family in the landslide.

Presently the site has a road which leads to the other wadis surrounding Malin which lead to Chinchewadi, Pasarwadi, Potewadi and Lembewadi.

“If the consent is given, then the proposal is to construct a memorial along with tree plantation, compound wall and also convert the present school to a museum. However with no movement from both these departments, we are awaiting further orders,’’ said the district administration official.