Terming the landslip in Malin village of Pune as a “man-made disaster,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau on Thursday demanded an impartial enquiry into the reasons for the tragedy in which “at least 200 precious Adivasi lives, possibly more’’ were lost.
In a statement, the Polit Bureau said the government had adequate warning in the past few years when smaller landslips had occurred because of the flow of the backwater of the nearby Dimbha dam but no preventive measures were taken.
The party alleged, JCB machines were being used on the hillside in the name of developing Adivasi land but were essentially serving “the interests of a network of JCB machine owners, corrupt officers and leaders.”
The use of these heavy machines caused damage to the hillside and the government did not prohibit their use despite opposition from the Adviasis, the party noted.
With the neglect of the roads leading to the village delaying relief, the CPI(M) described the tragedy as a stark reminder of the horrible conditions in which large sections of Adivasis live and the utter callousness which permeates official policies and attitudes to Adivasi communities.