The Maharashtra revenue department has directed the rehabilitation of 24 tribal households affected by a CIDCO eviction drive in Kharghar, with each family to receive a ₹2.5 lakh grant-in-aid and a 1,000 sq ft plot, according to directions issued by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
The decision followed a joint meeting convened by Bawankule after CIDCO carried out a demolition drive at the tribal hamlet on Tuesday. A physically disabled tribal resident, Balu Kambdi, died during the eviction drive, leading to a protest. Kharghar police have filed an accidental death report in connection with the death.
A team led by the Panvel sub-divisional officer and tahsildar Meenal Bhamre inspected the hamlet site on Friday. CIDCO officials and other government representatives also visited the location after the minister’s directions, according to family members.
The meeting was attended by MLC Vikrant Patil, corporators and relatives of Kambdi. Divisional commissioner officials, CIDCO managing director Ashwin Mudgal, Raigad collector Kishan Jawale, Panvel SDO Pawan Chandak and other officials were present.
The minister also directed CIDCO to provide a job to one member of Kambdi’s family. Datta Kambdi, one of his sons, said the family had been assured of a CIDCO job, financial assistance and a plot. He said there were originally 25 huts at the site, of which one had been demolished, leaving 24 huts.
The rehabilitation directive places the immediate response under several institutions, including the revenue administration, CIDCO and the Panvel sub-divisional and tehsil offices. The directions cover both household-level assistance and land allocation, while the employment measure applies specifically to Kambdi’s family.
The family is awaiting the post-mortem report, Datta said. He added that the report was expected within the next fortnight, with delays possible because of the Diwali holiday period and staff members being on leave.
The death during the eviction drive and the subsequent protest brought the Kharghar hamlet issue to the attention of the state administration. MLC Vikrant Patil expressed satisfaction with the minister’s directions and said the residents’ concerns were being heard at short notice.
The Panvel SDO, tahsildar, CIDCO officials and other government representatives are now responsible for taking forward the site-level process. The next formal milestones are the post-mortem report and implementation of the rehabilitation, financial assistance, plot allocation and employment directions.
