On 20th December the Bombay High Court refused a private firm’s petition to quash the tender awarded to Adani Group for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. It also based its petition on cancellation of a earlier tender in 2019 for the same service. The ruling gives a major boost to the Adani group and will enable what is touted as one of India’s biggest urban-renewal projects.
This paper focuses on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project which seeks to accord the world’s largest slum new sustainable life in the next ten years. According to Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, the primary objective of the project is to be a synthesis of two objectives – the rehabilitation of over one million residents and urban redevelopment.
The plan seemed to rehouse the eligible residents with different plural flat accommodation of not less than 350 sq ft which is even bigger than most WRs in MMRs slum redevelopment schemes. The Rs 23,000-crore project also envisages infrastructure development and environmental mitigation that ranges from having thousands of trees planted. It was identified that Adani Group has promised to hold itself to certain levels of ESG performance.
Some critics have accused the Australian government of undertaking the project to favor the Adani Group. Nevertheless, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL) pointed out that railway land was bought at 170% the rate which again did not displace anyone. Pre January 2000 constructed tenements will be refurbished within Dharavi and the rest will get homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Regarding the issue on transparency, DRPPL explained in its proposal that the surveys will be conducted by independent individuals. Furthermore, land allocation will also done according to Maharashtra Land Revenue Rules so that that does not violate any governmental regulation.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project continues to be a flagship of initiatives of slum rehabilitation; providing shelter, environmental, and concept for sustainable city development.
