Dharavi residents fear uncertainty over rehabilitation, Maharashtra government must give written guarantee, says Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad

Mumbai: Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad has written to the Maharashtra government, saying uncertainty and insecurity prevailed among residents of Dharavi over their rehabilitation after the redevelopment of the slum colony.

In the letter written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on June 13, Gaikwad sought an urgent meeting with officials and a clear rehabilitation policy for residents affected by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).

She said the redevelopment project should not be confined to construction of buildings, but must prioritise the social and economic well-being of residents, local industries and the area's ecosystem.

Referring to 47 residential buildings in Shahu Nagar owned by the BMC's estate department, she said residents had received notices on June 10 asking them to vacate their homes within seven days. "The notices have created fear and anxiety among thousands of residents as they do not specify where they will be rehabilitated, when alternative accommodation will be provided, the size of houses or how their rights will be protected," she said.