Will bring white paper on Dharavi redevelopment before elections: Revenue minister Vikhe-Patil

“The Dharavi redevelopment project is a big scam and the state government should come out with a white paper, or else when the next government comes to power in October, the entire project will be scrapped,” said Chavan in the Maharashtra Assembly on budgetary demands of the revenue department.

Chavan also asked if the recent handing over of a dairy land in Kurla for the Dharavi redevelopment project was mentioned in the original tender. The 21-acre plot of Dairy development department in suburban Kurla has recently been handed over for the detailed project report.

Replying to Chavan, Vikhe-Patil said due process has been followed while handing over the land. “It was with the dairy development, which was transferred to the revenue department and from there, to redevelopment projects. Since the department which is undertaking the project is not with me, I cannot say whether it was part of the original tender. The concerned minister can answer this,” he said.

Vikhe-Patil said if needed, his government is not afraid of bringing out a white paper on the Dharavi redevelopment project while concluding his speech. Chavan rose up and asked if he would do it before elections. “We will do it before elections and can do it even after elections since we are coming to power once again,” said Vikhe-Patil.

Spread over 2.8 square kilometre, the Dharavi slum area is home to an informal leather and pottery industry that employs over a lakh people. The state had envisaged that this area will be transformed into a cluster of high-rises with improved urban infrastructure.

It entailed resettling 68,000 people, including slum dwellers and those with commercial establishments. In November 2022, Adani Realty bagged the project by quoting Rs 5,069 crore in the bidding process.

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), both part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, have been opposing the multi-billion dollar Dharavi redevelopment project being executed by the Adani group.