Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Dharavi have pledged their support for the ongoing state-led survey of informal tenants, a key step in the $3 billion Dharavi redevelopment project. The NGOs have accused non-locals of spreading misinformation to stall the redevelopment efforts, as outlined in letters sent to Maharashtra government authorities.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project/Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP/SRA), which oversees the redevelopment initiative in partnership with the Adani Group, received letters of support from eight NGOs and citizen welfare associations. These organizations, which focus on diverse welfare activities such as health, education, and women?s empowerment, have met with the CEO of Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Ltd (DRPPL) to express their backing for the survey currently being conducted in Dharavi.
Noor Mohammed Khan of Global Giving Foundation and All India Police Jan Seva Sangathna extended support while raising 13 questions regarding the redevelopment plan. These queries covered various aspects, including the duration of free maintenance for flats constructed to rehabilitate Dharavi residents and the status of those who moved into Dharavi post-January 2000, which is the cutoff date for determining eligibility for the new flats. Khan confirmed that the authority has promised to respond to these questions.
In a letter dated August 20, the Enlighten Foundation also voiced support for the survey. Rajeshkumar Panirselvam, founder and president of the Enlighten Foundation, stated, ?The residents and commercial premises owners are not against the project or the survey. It is opposed only by a handful of people with vested interests who are not locals and are oblivious to the living conditions in Dharavi.?
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj CHS, a local resident association, expressed a desire to proceed with the survey and the long-delayed redevelopment project, emphasizing the need for progress after decades of stagnation. "Many generations have passed, waiting for the area to be redeveloped, but only now are we witnessing a positive step," the association wrote.
The survey, which began on March 18, 2024, has so far covered over 11,000 tenements through door-to-door visits and numbered more than 30,000 properties, including residential, commercial, and religious structures across Dharavi. The Thevar Samajam, representing the largest Tamil community in Dharavi, assured DRPPL of the local residents " and business owners" eagerness to see the redevelopment move forward.
Youth groups such as Dharavikar Iron Group and Om Shri Gauri Mitra Mandal have offered to volunteer as facilitators for the survey, underscoring the community's commitment to the project. The All India Police Jan Seva Sanghatana, representing the interests of police and government residences in Dharavi, has called for direct dialogue with residents to counter misinformation about the redevelopment.
Despite heavy rainfall and challenging conditions in Dharavi's narrow lanes, over 40 DRP survey teams are working diligently to ensure comprehensive coverage. The survey teams will soon be increased to 100 to expedite the data collection process. Mapping Dharavi's approximately 600 acres is crucial for the redevelopment, which is expected to take seven years to complete.
The state government's unique policy guarantees housing for all residents, eligible or not, with eligible residents receiving a 350 sq ft flat in Dharavi and others being rehoused elsewhere in Mumbai. The DRP, a Maharashtra government department, along with DRPPL "a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group" is conducting the survey to gather data from Dharavi's numerous informal tenement residents, crucial for determining eligibility for rehabilitation under the proposed redevelopment project.
The current redevelopment plan marks the state government's fourth attempt to transform Dharavi through a global tender, and it is gaining significant local support as a transformative initiative, not just a real estate project.
