Dharavi Redevelopment: Safety Assured on Resettlement Lands

In response to concerns about the use of salt pan lands for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), the Maharashtra government has confirmed that the approved resettlement sites are safe for construction and pose no environmental threat.

Approximately 256 acres in Mulund, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup have been cleared for use under the DRP. According to SVR Srinivas, CEO of the project, these parcels are located on the west side of the Expressway—areas that do not fall under ecologically sensitive zones or Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) restrictions. In contrast, the eastern side, which includes creeks and wetlands that attract migratory birds like flamingos, remains protected.

“The actual creek and wetlands are east of the Expressway. The west side, where DRP resettlement land is situated, has no CRZ restrictions or ecological sensitivity,” Srinivas stated. “All necessary environmental clearances will be secured before construction begins.”

The use of salt pan lands for affordable housing had already been included in the Development Plan 2034, approved in 2018. The DRP’s plan aims to accommodate large-scale resettlement without disturbing ecologically fragile areas.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.