Dharavi Redevelopment: Hope, fear, and the price of progress | BBC News India

Summary

Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum in Mumbai, is a bustling hub of small businesses and diverse communities, home to over a million people. The Maharashtra government and the Adani Group plan to redevelop it into a modern township with high-rise homes, commercial spaces, and improved infrastructure. While officials promise free or affordable housing for eligible residents, many fear displacement, loss of livelihoods, and uncertainty over relocation. Traditional industries like pottery, leather, and plastics could be disrupted, raising concerns across generations. Amid political controversies and decades-long delays, Dharavi’s residents aspire for a better future but remain wary of the redevelopment’s real impact.

Takeaways

• 🏘️ Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum in Mumbai, is home to over a million people and hosts a vibrant ecosystem of small businesses and industries.
• 🌆 The Government of Maharashtra and the Adani Group plan to redevelop Dharavi into a modern township with high-rise homes and improved infrastructure.
• 📜 Eligibility for new housing is based on residency: pre-2000 residents get flats in Dharavi, 2000–2011 residents get housing outside at nominal cost, post-2011 residents are ineligible.
• ⚠️ Many residents fear displacement, loss of livelihoods, and potential homelessness due to strict eligibility criteria and relocation plans.
• 🛠️ Dharavi’s existing industries, including pottery, leather, plastics, and handicrafts, rely on the area’s unique layout, which may be disrupted by redevelopment.
• 🌿 Relocation sites, such as Deonar, raise environmental and health concerns for residents being moved there.
• 💼 Small business owners like artisans and home-based workers are uncertain about their future under the redevelopment plan.
• 🎬 Dharavi gained global attention after featuring in the Oscar-winning film *Slumdog Millionaire*, highlighting its cultural and economic significance.
• 🏛️ The redevelopment project has been delayed for two decades and is politically sensitive, with allegations of favoritism towards the Adani Group due to political ties.
• 💭 Despite uncertainties and controversies, residents aspire to improved living standards, better housing, and a more prosperous future.

Q & A

What is Dharavi known for?

Dharavi is Asia’s largest slum, located in Mumbai, and is known for its dense population, narrow lanes, small homes, and thriving small-scale industries such as pottery, leather, and plastics.

Who is leading the redevelopment project of Dharavi?

The redevelopment project is a partnership between the Government of Maharashtra and the private developer, the Adani Group, led by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.

What is the main goal of the Dharavi redevelopment project?

The project aims to transform Dharavi into a modern township with high-rise homes, improved commercial spaces, and better infrastructure for its residents.

How are residents categorized for eligibility in the redevelopment plan?

Residents are categorized based on their duration of residence: those living on ground floors before January 1, 2000 get free housing in Dharavi; those from 2000 to 2011 get housing outside Dharavi at a nominal cost; and those post-2011, including upper floors, are ineligible for free housing but may be relocated elsewhere in Mumbai.

What are some concerns residents have about the redevelopment?

Residents fear losing their homes, livelihoods, and community networks. Small businesses dependent on Dharavi's layout may be disrupted, and some ineligible residents may be moved to environmentally unsafe areas like Deonar.

Why is Dharavi considered important for employment?

Dharavi provides jobs for around 100,000 people, largely migrants, through its diverse industries and interconnected small businesses that depend on the slum's unique layout.

What are the social and emotional impacts of the redevelopment on residents?

The redevelopment raises concerns across generations and religious communities, with residents worrying about displacement, the future of their children, and the loss of their cultural and social fabric.

Has the Adani Group issued a public statement about environmental and safety concerns?

No, the Adani Group has not issued any public statement regarding environmental safety or health risks associated with relocating residents to areas like Deonar.

What historical and cultural significance does Dharavi hold?

Dharavi is historically a settlement for fishermen and has evolved into a hub of small industries. It gained international attention after featuring in the Oscar-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2008, highlighting its unique social and economic ecosystem.

Why has the redevelopment of Dharavi faced delays over the past two decades?

The redevelopment has faced delays due to tendering process issues, political disputes between opposition and ruling parties, and controversies surrounding the perceived political connections of the Adani Group.

What are the potential benefits claimed by project officials?

Officials claim the redevelopment will improve residents' lives by providing better housing, commercial spaces, and infrastructure, while minimizing displacement and keeping residents close to their current community.

How do residents feel about the promised redevelopment versus their current realities?

While some residents are hopeful about improved living conditions, many remain wary of potential displacement, eligibility issues, and the disruption of their established livelihoods.