At the entrance to her house in Dharavi, Mumbai, Anuradha Baraskale pauses. She has spent her entire life in a slum that is about to change into a contemporary complex of offices, shopping centres, and upscale homes. Although she sees the growth potential, she is nevertheless worried about the future. She is unsure of her resettlement because she is a tenant and not a homeowner. Although she hasn’t had formal confirmation, a customer at her diya shop warned her that renters might be moved to Deonar’s tall rubbish dumps. She can’t sleep at night because of the uncertainty.
After years of failed attempts, the Maharashtra government awarded the Dharavi redevelopment contract to the Adani Group in November 2022. Spanning 600 acres, Dharavi is located near the Bandra-Kurla Complex, a prime business hub, making the redevelopment highly lucrative. Residents who have lived there since before 2000 are eligible for in-situ resettlement. However, thousands of tenants, including Anuradha, may be relocated to Deonar, home to Mumbai’s waste dumping grounds since 1899.
To resettle displaced residents, the government set aside 124 acres in Deonar and further land in salt pan areas in October 2024. The notorious garbage mountains of Deonar, which may reach the height of 20-story buildings, are made up of layers of decaying debris that emit harmful gases such as hydrogen sulphide and methane. The already dangerous living circumstances are made worse by the presence of a medical waste incinerator in the region. People who live close to Deonar have some of the highest rates of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), with a life expectancy of only 39 years, according to the 2009 State Human Development Index.
Despite this, S.V.R. Srinivas, Chief Executive of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), insists that even ineligible residents like Anuradha will receive housing—just not in Dharavi. He acknowledges that levelling Deonar’s garbage mountains to make the land habitable will be expensive and time-consuming. Nonetheless, Dharavi’s redevelopment is progressing, with only 23,000 households surveyed before the elections. Following the Mahayuti government’s return to power, surveys, including drone mapping, have intensified.
Anuradha is worried about more than just moving. Her mother is qualified for a new home because her family has resided in Dharavi since before she was born in 1992. But with five sisters, finding a place to live is still a mystery. She keeps hearing about ongoing surveys and preparations for resettlement in the interim.
Raju Korde, a lawyer and member of the Shetkari Kamgar Party, claims that 100,000 structures exist in Dharavi, ranging from homes to businesses specializing in leather goods, clothing, and plastic recycling. He questions why the Adani Group has been allocated 1,500 acres across Mumbai for resettlement, calling it a land grab.
Srinivas disputes these assertions, claiming that the government still controls the land. Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL), a partnership between the Adani Group and the Dharavi reconstruction Project (DRP), will oversee the reconstruction. In late 2024, the company changed its name from Dharavi Redevelopment Project Limited (DRPPL). After investing ₹100 crore in June 2024, the government’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) owns 20% of the business, while the Adani Group owns 80%.
Concerns have been raised about government influence in NMDPL. Under previous agreements, board resolutions could pass with a simple majority, meaning the Adani Group could dominate decision-making. A former banker and institutional advisor pointed out that other public-private projects, such as the Delhi and Bangalore airports, ensure government minority stakeholders have veto rights something not clearly defined in this case.
However, Srinivas contends that to advance the long-stalled project, the Adani Group must be granted operational flexibility. He states, “They require some freedom.” “You spend money and I will be the boss—how can that work?” His position emphasises the financial reality: the government’s role is unclear due to the Adani Group’s significant investment in the project, which requires autonomy.
In the winding streets of Dharavi, uncertainty and dread increase as the initiative gets traction. The harsh fact for residents like Anuradha is that they may have to live on top of dangerous landfills or be relocated to some of Mumbai’s most valuable real estate. Although officials say the reconstruction will improve life, there are still questions regarding how the project will affect the inhabitants of Dharavi. Like hundreds of others entangled in the intricate web of Mumbai’s urban change, Anuradha’s future is currently uncertain.
Source: The Wire
