Expert team to study Pune landslide

In the wake of recent tragedy in Pune, the Centre today said it is sending an expert team to assess whether environmental factors were a major cause for the landslide.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha that a report has also been sought from the state government to understand whether environmental factors resulted in the landslide.
The devastating landslide last week has claimed 151 lives besides flattening about 45 villages at Malin near Pune and virtually wiped out the village from the map.
"We will be sending a team (to the site) to see and study whether environmental factors (also caused the landslide," Javadekar said while replying to a question.

He said that he belongs to that area and was aware of certain environmental conditions.
The Centre has also asked the state government to submit a report on whether environmental factors contributed to the landslide, he said during Question Hour.