New homes for landslide victims by August

Prithvijit Mitra,TNN | Jul 8, 2015, KOLKATA: Limbudora village will soon have a new address in the Hills — the tea gardens of Mirik.

The village, which has been deserted since the July 1 landslide that killed 26 villagers and destroyed four houses, will cease to exist by the end of the year. 

Following a meeting between Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and representatives of four adjoining tea gardens on Monday, it has been decided that the displaced villagers will be rehabilitated across the gardens between August and December. 

Formalities for the transfer of land will begin soon. Limbudora villagers are living at a relief camp in Mirik. 

Around 2-3 acres will be used in each of the four tea gardens - Tingling, Phuguri, Gayabari and Sourini. "We are in the process of identifying plain land within the estates for the settlements. Colonies will be constructed at the four gardens since we can't accommodate all the 90 families at the same spot," said GTA member Arun Sigshi. 

Sources said that the construction of houses will be financed by the Centre, state and GTA. While funds wouldn't be a barrier, construction will have to wait till the monsoon subsides, said a GTA official. 

"We can't start building the houses till September. Our target is to complete the shift by December," said Sighsi. He added that the transfer would be done in three phases. First, those who have lost their homes will be accommodated at the new location. Next to shift will be those whose homes have been partially damaged. In the third and final phase, the rest will move. 

Limbudora villagers have refused to move to other hill slopes, for it could be just as risky. The only road leading to the village was badly damaged by the landslide and has remained closed ever since. Even though villagers are taking turns to visit their homes during the day, the houses remain deserted and unguarded at night. 

"We are ready to live in the camp till we have a new place to shift to. But it should be at a safe distance from the hill slopes since they remain risky. Mounds of earth are still hanging precariously from the edges of the hills. Another slide could leave us all dead," said Nipen Khawas, a villager.