'Redevelopment will kill Dharavi's identity, destroy its small-scale businesses'

The process to redevelop Dharavi the biggest slum colony in Mumbai may have begun with the Adani Group emerging as the highest bidder for the project but the local residents are not really happy with the idea of redevelopment and have a number of apprehensions about it with some saying the area will lose its international identity as a large number of foreigners visit it as touristsMost of the local residents expressed fear that redevelopment will kill the small businesses in Dharavi that it is known for and that they are content with the way things are at present They said they are uncertain about what they will be offered after redevelopmentDharavi located in central parts of the countrys financial capital is a hub for several smallscale unorganised industries that manufacture medicines leather footwear clothes among other things It is known as one of Asias biggest slum clustersThe Adani Group has emerged as the highest bidder for the 259hectare Dharavi Redevelopment Project The group has put in a Rs 5069 crore bid for the redevelopment of one of the largest slum sprawls in the world outbidding DLF which had quoted Rs 2025 crore chief executive officer of the project S V R Srinivas said on TuesdayAlso Read Pinky Irani arrested in conman Sukesh Chandrashekhars extorion caseThe bid is for the entire Rs 20000crore project and the total timeline for the project is seven years to rehabilitate the 65 lakh slum dwellers who are spread over 25 sq km area right now he saidThe residents of the slum do not appear happy with the governments decision to redevelop itPaul Raphel who runs Dharavi Nagrik Seva Sangh said We are not happy as the land that houses Asias biggest slum is being handed over to Adani Group There are thousands of huts in Dharavi and four to five families reside in each hut But after redevelopment they will get only one flat which may not be sufficient for themMore than 2000 idli vendors reside in Dharavi and roam across Mumbai to sell the snack to make a living he saidBut after redevelopment such small businesses may get over Those involved in manufacturing farsan salty snacks leather products embroidered garments imitation jewellery among others will be finished The value of houses may increase but there is a strong possibility that most of them will sell out the property and leave the place he saidMahesh Ankush Kawle a resident of Shastri Nagar in Dharavi said politicians and builders have started visiting the place to play with the sentiments of the local residents as elections are nearingPeople speaking around 18 languages and engaged in different businesses reside here These people politicians and builders are just playing with the sentiments of local residents Dharavi is spread over 600 acres of land It is a prime location in Mumbai with four to five railway stations located nearby he saidThe redevelopment project is being carried out not for the welfare of the local people but for the personal gain of certain individuals he allegedPresident of Dharavi Bachao Andolan Ramakant Gupta said The redevelopment project should be completed in time The Dharavi Rehabilitation Project DRP was approved in 2004 but nothing has happened so far In 1995 there were 57000 shanties in the slum but the number has more than doubled now and we assume that it is around 120000Around 50 per cent residents of Dharavi run smallscale businesses from their houses and the population is around 12 lakh We welcome the government decision but it should be implemented in time he saidLocal resident Ayyub Sheikh said a large number of foreigners from different countries visit Dharavi as tourists to see from close quarters its ethos and characterBut once the huts are demolished for redevelopment Dharavi will lose its appeal and international identity The locals will shift out of Mumbai once the redevelopment starts he addedSeventyyearold Usha Bai a resident of Tata Power in Dharavi who has been selling fruits there since the last more than 30 years also expressed unhappiness over the redevelopment projectWe are happy here only as we dont know whats going to happen with us in future she saidAnother resident Rajaram Upadhyay wondered what would happen to hundreds of religious structures in Dharavi We welcome the move but everyone should get proper accommodation he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever