MUMBAI: Residents of Madh-Marve and Malvani came out in large numbers and stopped officials of Mumbai suburban district collector’s office from carrying out a survey of the land for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.
This is the second time that the collector’s office tried to do the survey. A previous attempt before assembly polls was also foiled by locals who are determined not to allow relocation of Dharavi residents to Madh.
On Thursday, revenue officials arrived early morning, but residents gathered in large numbers and did not allow surveyors to enter the land. They came with placards and shouted slogans. By late morning, officials left the spot, but locals stayed put till late evening.
They were joined in the protests by local Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh who had participated in the protests earlier too.
Gregory Gracias, a local, said: “There is not enough infrastructure for existing residents. Relocation of lakhs of people will completely ruin this place. There is huge congestion at Malad railway station, traffic jams at Mith Chowki are a daily occurrence. It takes an hour at times to reach from the railway station,” said Gracias.
Another resident, Aditi Chakraborty, who joined the protest said Dharavi residents must be resettled in Dharavi. “Horizontal slums will be replaced with buildings. There is enough land to accommodate all residents in Dharavi. Malad can’t take more people given the poor infrastructure,” she said.
Last October, the Eknath Shinde govt approved transfer of 140 acres of revenue land at Aksa and Malvani village for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The govt announced that only those eligible for free housing and those who resided in Dharavi up to 2011 will be eligible for housing in Dharavi.
The rest will be moved elsewhere in the city and even in Mumbai metro region, where they will be provided rental housing. The project is being executed by Adani Realty. The govt set up a special purpose vehicle in which it has a 20% equity and Adani Realty 80%.
