Dharavi Redevelopment Project is facing opposition heat for favoring the Adani Group over the future of the residents.

Ambadas Danve, the leader of the Maharashtra Legislative Council’s opposition and the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), protested against the Adani Group-led Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) on Wednesday during the state Legislative Assembly’s winter session at Vidhan Bhawan in Nagpur with other MLAs.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Mumbai Congress Chief Varsha Gaikwad, and other legislators expressed their concerns on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will raise this issue in both Houses of the legislature.

Among the slogans they shouted was ‘Dharavi vachva, laghu udyog vachva’ (Preserve Dharavi, preserve small-scale enterprises).

In the heart of the nation’s financial district, Dharavi serves as a hub for a number of small-scale, unorganized companies that produce a variety of goods, including clothing, shoes, leather goods, and medications. It is said to be one of the largest slum clusters to exist in Asia.

Why are there protests against Dharavi Redevelopment Project?

On December 13, opposition parties in Maharashtra attacked the State government, claiming that the government, led by Eknath Shinde, was favoring the Adani Group in the Dharavi redevelopment matter while ignoring the welfare of the slum’s inhabitants.

With a ‘Modani’ banner waving, the lawmakers demanded that Dharavi not be “gifted to Adani group”. Ambadas Danve, the head of the opposition in the council, claimed that the state government was quietly giving industrialist Gautam Adani’s land and uprooting hundreds of tiny enterprises that operated out of every house in Dharavi.

The head of the opposition in the council, Ambadas Danve, said that the state government was discreetly giving industrialist Gautam Adani the land, which would force hundreds of minuscule enterprises operating out of every Dharavi home.

Dhanve claimed that goons are being dispatched to Dharavi to force people out of their homes. “The state government serves Adani, same like Centre does. It’s uncertain whether 70000 residences will receive rehabilitation. We’ll bring up the matter internally,” he said.

According to Congress MLA Varsha Gaikwad, the Adani group has adapted the TDR regulations to their liking. Similar to airports, Gaikwad claimed the state government was encouraging Adani’s monopoly in slum rehabilitation.

The Dharavi Rehabilitation Project and The Adani Properties

Adani Properties won the 259-hectare Dharavi redevelopment project in November of last year after placing the highest proposal during a competitive bidding process. The project entails reconstructing the slum and is estimated to have a revenue potential of Rs 20,000 crore.

“The government is giving Adani land in Dharavi. However, a large number of slum dwellers who manage small-scale businesses are impacted by the process.”

“Adani’s Dharavi project has all of its agreements and tenders signed by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Whether or not more than 70,000 residents of Dharavi will receive homes there is still up for debate. In a same vein, the Adani Group will also acquire ownership of TDR,” stated Dhanve.

Dhanve questioned to whether the government was serving the Adani Group or the people of Dharavi.

Billionaire Gautam Adani wants to turn Mumbai’s Dharavi, one of Asia’s biggest slums, into a cutting-edge urban center. His real estate division won the competition with an astounding $618 million offer, and this week they received government approval for this game-changing project.

“A proud and purposeful new chapter is about to begin. We have a historic chance to build a new Dharavi that is inclusive, safe, and deserving of respect,” he stated in a LinkedIn post on July 20.

In order to carry out this significant change, he intends to work with experts and civil society. The rehabilitation plan is anticipated to include the creation of research and development centers and training centers. Adani also plans to create an organized marketplace that is in line with India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce, however no specifics were given.

Notably, locals who worry that their companies may be relocated far from the city center, potentially resulting in employment losses, and certain political parties have opposed Adani’s involvement in the project.

The site of the DRP has approximately 620 acres (250 hectares) of valuable real estate in Mumbai, the financial center and home to over 20 million people.

In order to modernize the neighborhood, managers have had to overcome a number of obstacles throughout the years, such as relocating an estimated one million residents, recruiting investors to an area without reliable infrastructure, and purchasing significant tracts of property.