Residents of Sector 1 in Dharavi, the first area expected to be affected by the massive redevelopment initiative, have launched a signature campaign seeking greater transparency and accountability in the rehabilitation process. The move comes more than a year after on-ground work began on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).
The campaign was launched at Matunga Labour Camp on Saturday and will continue throughout the week. “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 initiative follows the official groundbreaking ceremony conducted on October 12 by Pranav Adani, Director of Adani Enterprises Limited, at a 22-acre railway plot adjoining the labour camp. Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited, subsequently renamed Adani Navbharat Developers Private Limited (ANDPL), had earlier held a low-key groundbreaking ceremony in September 2024 amid strong opposition from local residents.
Sanjay Bhalerao, another campaign co-organiser, said, “Our charter of demands lists 12 points, all essential for a healthy redevelopment process.”
The demands include publishing the master plan for public scrutiny, inviting suggestions and objections, providing written rehabilitation clarifications, safeguarding housing rights and signing Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreements (PAAAs) before evictions. Residents have also called for transparent surveys, protection of businesses and livelihoods, disclosure of project approvals and construction progress, an independent grievance redressal mechanism, and preservation of public amenities and community infrastructure. They have additionally sought a meeting between residents’ representatives, the chief minister, relevant government authorities, DRP officials and the developer.
Fernando argued that proceeding without consulting residents raises concerns about accountability and transparency, stressing that redevelopment must protect their rights and address their demands.
An ANDPL spokesperson said the company was coordinating with DRP and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to publish the master plan at the earliest.
“The master plan will be made public by DRP/SRA at the appropriate stage. Over 3,000 individual rental agreements have already been signed with residents who have vacated or are in the process of vacating their premises and they are in process of getting notarised.”
The spokesperson did not clarify when residents’ consent would be obtained or how many PAAAs had been signed.
Source: Hindustan Times
