Nashik Municipal Corporation to build retaining wall at Kazigadi to avert recurring landslides, especially during monsoon season

Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has revived its long-pending plan to build a retaining wall at Kazigadi, a small hillock along the Godavari river, to curb recurring landslides, particularly during the monsoon season. The move comes in response to repeated instances of soil erosion, raising concerns about public safety and the hillock stability.Kazigadi, originally known as Old Matichi Gadi, is located about 30 metres from the riverbank and has been a concern since 2013, when a major landslide destroyed 24 houses in the area.Municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri confirmed to TOI that the civic body had prioritised the project once again. "We have decided to construct a retaining wall at Kazigadi to safeguard the hillock. This has been a long-standing demand, with the recent incidents underscoring the urgency," she said.She said the proposal would soon be sent to the state disaster management authority (SDMA) through the district disaster management authority, with NMC seeking Rs 50 crore in funding.Khatri also discussed the issue with state cabinet minister Girish Mahajan, who directed the administration to immediately forward the proposal to expedite fund allocation. Following his directive, the civic body has finalised the plan and is preparing to submit it to the SDMA.Kazigadi has experienced multiple episodes of soil movement and minor landslides over the years. Corporators have repeatedly demanded a robust retaining wall to prevent further erosion and avert possible mishaps during the monsoon.This is not the administration's first attempt to implement the project. In 2021, NMC had issued tenders worth Rs 27.5 crore to build the wall as part of hillock protection measures. Objections from the heirs of Kazigadi, however, stalled the initiative, prompting the civic body to withdraw the tender. A subsequent proposal by the state public works department also failed to progress.