The Rs 15,000-crore Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) is unlikely to take off any time soon. With the 2011-12 civic polls not too far away, the state government is reluctant to take political risks by implementing the DRP till several contentious issues, primarily rehabilitating post-2000 slumdwellers, are resolved. Implementing the scheme now will require consensus among political parties, and with the government aware of the weak wicket Adarsh and other scams have placed it in, Dharavi seems best delayed. Under the government’s slum policy, structures existing prior to January 1, 1995, are eligible for free housing. The government extended the cut off date to January 1, 2000, but the Supreme Court has yet to give its nod to the same. Moreover, the concept of free housing itself is being hotly debated. “Free housing is not an option. Some believe slumdwellers should pay construction cost, or a percentage of the ready reckoner or a one time charge. We would need a political consensus for implementing any of the options,’’ said a civic official. But the primary question concerns the fate of the post-2000 slumdwellers. According to an estimate, about 5,000 new structures housing at least 20,000 slum dwellers have cropped up in Dharavi in the last one decade alone. An earlier survey by Mashal, an NGO appointed by the DRP found about 57,000 structures existing till January 1, 2000. State housing secretary Gautam Chatterjee acknowledged it is an important issue and the government was debating options. The BMC survey also prima facie found an average 50% of those living prior to January 1, 2000 were ineligible for free housing. “Some purchased hutments after 2000, some showed proof of residence in another slum, some relocated from other parts of Dharavi,’’ said an official, adding the BMC is giving another chance to slumdwellers to provide residence proof. The government is also contemplating allowing Mhada to develop one of the five sectors, likely to be sector 5, instead of handing it to a developer. Estimated Cost :15,000 crore
Duration : 7 years
Slum Area : 535 acres Rehabilitation Project Area : 373 acres (approx)
Bidders : 7 of the 14 shortlisted bidders remain in the race Initial Plan : The project was supposed to have started by 2009 Tenement Size : Owners of over 100 sq ft to 300 sq ft dwellings will be rehabilitated in 300 to 400 sq ft apartments Amenities : Educational institutions; dispensaries; welfare centres/gyms; libraries; fire station; post offices; police stations; markets; potters’ institutes The Dharavi revamp plan divides the 535-acre slum into five sectors for constructing a modern township. To pre-qualify, bidders must complete at least one 40-hectare township with a minimum built-up area of 7 mn sq ft; have a gross net worth of 30% of the project cost for one sector (about Rs 1,800 crore) and have an average annual turnover for the past three years which is at least 25% of the sector's project cost. For every 100 sq ft used to rehabilitate slumdwellers, the developer can sell another 133 sq ft in the free market
TIMELINE
2004: Plans for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project launched in February 2007: Global expressions of interest invited in June 2009: In July, 14 bidders were shortlisted from the total 19; In September, the government postponed the call for bids just a few hours before deadline
All commercial and non-polluting non-hazardous industrial activities will be rehabilitated within podium levels All eligible slumdwellers with existing tenement areas up to 300 sq ft will receive 300 sq ft carpet area free of cost Those with existing areas above 300 sq ft will receive 400 sq ft carpet area of which 300 sq ft will be free and the rest 100 sq ft will be paid for by slumdwellers to the developer as decided by DRP, SRA All the slumdwellers below Tata Power line, on no-development zone and creek land will be shifted to the Dharavi area Amenities will be provided by developers and treated as rehabilitation component for which developers will receive incentive in the form of sale component The sale component generated shall have at least 50% non-residential use There will be two-tier podium with basement parking Developers will be responsible for operations, maintenance and security of the premises for 15 years after the project completion certificate An ‘elevated greenway’ will directly connect Mahim and Sion stations Developers will get advertisement rights on the greenway for 15 years
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