Govt ropes in Sarpanchs and Gram Sevaks in for panchnama of damage caused by Nisarga Cyclone

Guardian Minister Aditi Tatkare seeks help for panchanma from Sarpanch and gram-sevak for speedy assessment of loss in Pen Taluka

Mumbai: Pen taluka in Raigad district suffered heavy loss due to the wind fury and heavy rains that Cyclone Nisarga unleashed last week. The cyclone did not spare the Ganpati idol makers of Pen as the cyclone caused widespread damage worth crores of rupees to their idols. Already reeling under huge loss the idol makers the speedy panchanama can soon provide them some sigh of relief.

The Raigad Collector has issued orders for conducting immediate panchanama to all the talathi so that the assessment of loss can be done and accordingly compensation due to cyclone Nisarga can be also given to the victim families. However after finding shortage of staff, Guardian Minister for Raigad district Aditi Tatkare has sought help from grassroot officials like Gram Sevaks and Sarpanchs.

The cyclone has badly affected 15 taluka’s of Raigad district – Alibag, Murud, Pen, Tala, Shrivardhan, Mangaon, Mhasala and Roha. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) after making landfall, the wind speed had touched a maximum of 120 Kmph, resulting in damage to scores of Ganpati idols in various workshops in Pen Taluka and crores of loss to the idol makers.

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Ravindra Patil, MLA from Pen constituency said, “The situation of Ganpati idol makers is more than worst. They have been badly hit by both Coronavirus and Nisarga cyclone. There was only one talathi for Pen, thus now the village level help is being taken. The Gram Sevak and Sarpanch have been asked to take pictures and videos of the damage caused and send it to the talathi office staff. “

This way the assessment of loss is being speeded up and the Ganpati idol makers can get compensation. The Ganpati idol makers from Pen taluka in Raigad district of Maharashtra export Ganpati idols to other districts and to other states as well. The Pen city itself has about 5,000 workshops that produce 10 lakh Ganpati idols. The estimated loss to Ganpati idol makers by the cyclone is to the tune of Rs.10 crore.

Anil Dhere an idol maker from Pen said, “It takes lot of time if the government employee comes in for panchanama however the village level work is in speed. Most of the assessment is done by Sarpanch and Gram Sevak here thus we do not have to wait for this procedure. After panchanama we can start our work.”

The idol makers from Pen city has already availed loan of about Rs 125 crores from banks to procure raw materials and other infrastructure. With no business amid lockdown they were searching for options under unlock1.0, however another natural calamity cyclone Nisarga has given big jolt to their business.