The Maharashtra government has approved the allocation of nearly 256 acres of salt pan land in Mulund, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup for the rehabilitation of ineligible residents of Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest and most densely populated slums. This is a significant step forward for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). A long-standing problem with space for transferring persons who are not eligible for resettlement within Dharavi itself is addressed by this land allocation.
While the move has sparked environmental concerns among urban planners and activists, senior officials involved with the DRP have assured that the identified land parcels lie outside Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) boundaries and pose no ecological risk. Srinivas, a key DRP authority, confirmed that the sites are situated on the western side of the Eastern Expressway, far from the coastline and ecologically sensitive wetlands.
The approval aligns with Mumbai’s Development Plan 2034, which earmarked these salt pan tracts for affordable housing during the tenure of the United Shiv Sena-led civic body. The broader policy of utilising salt pan land for rehabilitation dates back to 2007, when the Congress-led state government proposed repurposing over 2,000 hectares of such land for infrastructure-related displacement.
The precedent for this policy is already in place, with the central government currently developing a massive Customs and Excise office complex on 55 acres of salt pan land in Wadala. Similarly, 15 acres in Kanjurmarg have been allotted for Metro Line 6’s car shed, with earlier plans by the MVA government envisioning a multi-line integration hub at the site.
Given Mumbai’s pressing housing crisis, this decision represents more than a land transfer—it symbolises a broader commitment to equitable urban redevelopment. If implemented with stringent environmental safeguards, the DRP’s salt pan strategy could set a sustainable precedent for inclusive growth in megacities across India.
Source: Hindustan Herald
