‘World’s biggest TDR scam’: Sena UBT protests Dharavi project contract to Adani Group

“Not only Dharavi residents but police, sanitary workers and mill workers should also get houses in Dharavi. I am not against development but this is the biggest TDR scam of the world. Adani is getting TDR of Rs 1 crore, which means his next generations can also live peacefully without working. So much is the TDR that the government is gifting them. But we will not let that happen,” Uddhav said and demanded houses to all the residents without discrimination or putting criteria of eligibility.

“The decision to redevelop Dharavi was taken in 2018, when Devendra Fadnavis was the Chief Minister. Therefore, this sin is of Devendra Fadnavis,” Uddhav said, adding that the government DRP tender was tweaked to favour Adani.

The slew of tax exemptions, benefits and freebies given to Adani in the DRP will hit the finances of Mumbai and Maharashtra, he said.

“Give houses to Dharavikars wherever they are now, give space for their business, give separate places to Koliwadas and Kumbharwada in Dharavi, otherwise we will not sit quietly. We will not allow any injustice on Dharavikars. We won’t agree to any eligibility or ineligibility terms… This fight is not only for Dharavi but for the whole state. This march was just to warn them, if needed I will bring the whole of Maharashtra in Dharavi for the rights of Dharavi residents,” Uddhav said.

Alleging that the state government is at the doorsteps of Adani and is unfairly favouring the business conglomerate, he said, “The government’s ‘Sarkar Aplya Dari (government at your doorstep)’ initiative is currently implemented in this state. But this is in fact ‘Sarkar Adanichya Dari’ (government at Adani’s doorstep).”

Accusing the BJP of treachery, he said, “Our government was running successfully for two-and-a-half years. It was toppled by treachery. When I was there in the government, they (BJP) could not do anything about the DRP. So the government was overthrown by the treachery.”

Uddhav also demanded that the businesses, which went to Gujarat should be brought back to Dharavi and an International Financial Center (IFC) which was moved to Surat should be moved to Dharavi.

Senior leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), including Congress MLA Varsha Gaikwad, Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leaders and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) functionaries, were also part of the rally.

Responding to the allegations of Uddhav Thackeray, the Adani group clarified that the Dharavi project was awarded to it through a fair, open, internationally competitive bidding process. “It is important to note that the tender conditions were finalised during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which demitted office at the end of June 2022. The finalised conditions, including the obligations and incentives, which were known to all the bidders, have not been changed for the awardee post the tendering process. Hence, it is wrong to claim that any special benefits have been given to the awardee,” the Spokesperson, Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL) said.

“It is unfortunate that a concerted effort is being made to disseminate misinformation about certain aspects of the project. It is reiterated that all eligible tenement holders will be provided with key-to-key solution, which means they will move into their new homes in Dharavi itself. As per the tender conditions, even ineligible tenement holders will be provided accommodation under the Rental Housing Policy… eligible residential tenements will receive 17% more area than other SRA projects… generation and usage of Transferable Development Rights TDR are as per the tender conditions and fully compliant with the relevant laws…,” the spokesperson added in a statement released Saturday evening.

Referring to the rally, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “Those who don’t want the development of Dharavi and are anti-development… The people in the state will give a befitting reply to the anti-development people. They (Sena UBT) called people from across the state for the rally… very few people were actually from Dharavi.”