Maharashtra to allot part of Deonar landfill site to Adani for Dharavi redevelopment

Activists and environmentalist have raised concerns over allowing residential towers to be built over piles of garbage, and allowing people to stay in such close proximity to the landfill site

Maharashtra Cabinet meeting, Deonar dumping ground, Mumbais largest dumping ground, Adani Group Dharavi Redevelopment Project, DRP housing unit, Deonar landfill site, Indian Express news

Spread over 311 acres (126 hectares), the Deonar landfill is the oldest dump-yard in Mumbai that has been in operation since 1927. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Monday cleared a proposal allowing allotment of 124 acres of Deonar dumping ground, one of the oldest and largest dumping grounds in the city, to the Adani Group for creating housing units for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).

This is the third allotment of land in the last one month for DRP. In the last cabinet meeting, on October 10, the state cleared the proposal to allot around 140 acres of land in Madh to resettle Dharavi residents. In an earlier cabinet meeting on September 30, the government had approved leasing of 255 acres of ecologically fragile salt-pan land to build houses of Dharavi residents. In June 2023, the state had approved handing over of around 21 acres of Kurla dairy land for the said project.

Spread over 311 acres (126 hectares), the Deonar landfill is the oldest dump-yard in Mumbai that has been in operation since 1927. Of the total area, the state government has earmarked 124 acres (50 hectares) for DRP for setting up of housing units. The remaining 187 acres will stay with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The landfill at present houses close to 20 million tonnes of solid waste, and BMC’s Environment Survey Report (ESR) states that on a daily basis, around 500-700 Metric Tonnes (MT) of solid waste is being dumped in the landfill which is approximately 10 per cent of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Mumbai everyday.

“The proposal of handing over the land parcel came from the state government last year. We were told to clear the said portion from the existing legacy waste and then hand it over. However, the land is being handed over on ‘as-it-is’ basis since the quantum of waste couldn’t be removed from there,” a senior civic official said.
The 124 acre land parcel was previously being used to dump and treat garbage. It had, however, reached saturation level and dumping on this particular land has been stopped for some time. Officials say that after the handover of the land, the DRP will be responsible for either removing or treating the existing garbage on the said land.

The handover of the land has however led to activists and environmentalists raising concerns over allowing construction of residential towers over piles of garbage and allowing people to stay in such close proximity to the city’s biggest landfill site.

Rishi Aggarwal, director of Mumbai Sustainability Center, told The Indian Express that the government should reconsider its decision of rehabilitating people inside the dumping ground considering that it is extremely hazardous. “Landfills are known to emit fumes including methane. Legacy waste often catches fire which leads to emission of carcinogens as waste items such as plastic gets burnt. Several studies have already shown that people living in areas like Mankhurd, Govandi, Shivaji Nagar have low expectancy and our hope is that the government should reverse its decision,” Aggarwal told The Indian Express.

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Advocate Raju Korde, founder member of Dharavi Bachao Andolan told The Indian Express that the DRP is an in-situ redevelopment plan “where residents are supposed to be rehabilitated in Dharavi only. We have opposed the move of relocating Dharavi residents to Deonar from the very beginning knowing it is extremely dangerous.”

Meanwhile, the Opposition also slammed the state government over the land allotment. “While we rejoice at the last minute decision on the toll waiver of ₹50, the Adani group today has got more land for the so-called Dharavi redevelopment, for free. The land is worth around ₹5,000 crore,” said Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray.

Mumbai Congress chief and LS MP Varsha Gaikwad termed it as a ‘mega loot’ of Mumbai. “Dharavi belongs to the people of Dharavi. Why are they being forced to live in a dumping ground in Deonar? Why are they being thrown elsewhere? We will not allow this,” she said.

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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