Dharavi residents demand transparency in revamp
Mumbai, Oct. 20 -- More than two years after work on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) commenced on ground, residents of sector 1 in Dharavi, the first to be impacted by the massive revamp project, have initiated a signature campaign demanding transparency and accountability in the rehabilitation process.
"The campaign will continue throughout this entire week," said Reedan Fernando, co-organiser of the 'No Master Plan, No Construction' campaign, "We are concerned about the entire process due to lack of transparency and non-disclosure of the redevelopment master plan even as people are being evicted from their homes."
The signature campaign was launched at the Matunga Labour Camp on Saturday, days after Pranav Adani, Director of Adani Enterprises Limited, performed the official groundbreaking ceremony for the project on October 12, at the 22-acre railway plot next to the labour camp.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited, which was later renamed Adani Navbharat Developers Private Limited (ANDPL), had held a low-key groundbreaking ceremony in September 2024 owing to stiff resistance from local residents.
Sanjay Bhalerao, co-organiser of the signature campaign, said, "Our charter of demands lists 12 points, all essential for a healthy redevelopment process."
The points include public disclosure of the master plan, public suggestions and objections, written clarification regarding rehabilitation, protection of rehabilitation and housing rights, signing of Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreement (PAAA) prior to eviction, transparency in surveys and rehabilitation records, protection of businesses and livelihoods, disclosure of approvals and construction status, independent grievance redressal mechanism, protection of public amenities and community infrastructure, and a meeting of residents' representatives with the chief minister, concerned government authorities, the DRP administration, and ANDPL, the developer.
An ANDPL spokesperson said the master plan would be made public by DRP/SRA at the appropriate stage. The spokesperson did not respond to queries regarding when the inhabitants' consent would be taken, and how many PAAAs had been signed....
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