A Maharashtra government-appointed committee reviewing religious structures within the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) has recommended the removal of eight structures and the relocation or consolidation of three others in its first interim report submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
According to officials, the report focuses on 12 priority religious structures located in Sector 1 of the redevelopment area. Of these, 11 structures were examined by the committee, while one was excluded after revisions were made to the project boundary.
The recommendations are based on the legal status and timeline of the structures. The committee has proposed removing eight religious structures that were built after September 29, 2009, the cut-off date set by the Supreme Court for unauthorised religious structures on public land. It has also suggested relocating or consolidating three older structures as part of the redevelopment process.
The panel was constituted by the Maharashtra government to examine religious structures that fall within the ambit of the large-scale Dharavi Redevelopment Project and recommend appropriate action while balancing legal requirements and redevelopment needs.
Officials said the committee has so far conducted 149 hearings involving representatives of religious trusts, local stakeholders and government authorities to assess each case individually before arriving at its recommendations.
The interim report also reveals that a total of 590 religious structures have been identified across the Dharavi redevelopment area. These include temples, mosques, churches, dargahs and other places of worship located within the project’s boundaries.
The committee’s recommendations are expected to help facilitate the implementation of the redevelopment project by addressing issues related to structures located on public land. Further reports covering additional sectors of the redevelopment area are expected as the committee continues its review of the remaining religious structures.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is one of India’s largest urban renewal initiatives, aimed at redeveloping one of Asia’s biggest informal settlements through modern housing, infrastructure and public amenities while addressing legal, social and rehabilitation concerns.
Source: The Indian Express
