Dharavi Redevelopment Project | 06 Dec 2022

For Prelims: Dharavi Redevelopment Project, Dharavi.

For Mains: Recent Initiatives Related to Urban Development.

Why in News?

The Bombay High Court (HC) seeks the Dharavi redevelopment project authority’s reply to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for removal of Mahim Nature Park from the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

  • Mahim Nature Park is a protected forest under Indian Forest Act, 1927.

What is Dharavi Redevelopment Project?

  • Dharavi Redevelopment Project is the makeover of Mumbai’s slum cluster, Dharavi.
  • The project was initially mooted in 2004, but never got off the ground due to various reasons.
    • Recently, the Adani Group won the bid for this project.
  • It entails resettling 68,000 people, including slum dwellers and those with commercial establishments.
  • The rehabilitation construction cost is estimated at 23,000 crore.
  • A special purpose vehicle (SPV) is to be formed, with Adani as the lead partner.
    • Adani will hold 80% equity in the SPV while the state government will hold 20%.
  • The SPV will construct free housing for eligible slum residents, with amenities and infrastructure such as water and power supply, sewage disposal, piped gas, etc.

What is Dharavi?

  • Dharavi is the biggest slum cluster of Asia that lies on prime property right in the middle of Mumbai.
  • It is spread over 300 hectares, of which the state government has notified 240 hectares for the project.
  • It was founded in 1882 at the time of British Raj.
    • During the 18th century, unplanned localities started to grow when the process of urbanization of Mumbai was going on.
  • Half-a-million people or so, live in Dharavi.
    • Apart from the currently estimated 56,000 families, it houses tens of thousands of small commercial establishments, ranging from pottery to leather work.
    • But living conditions are quite poor, given the density and the lack of many basic amenities.

What are the Recent Initiatives Related to Urban Development?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q. Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in (2017)

(a) Federalism
(b) Democratic decentralisation
(c) Administrative delegation
(d) Direct democracy

Ans: B

Exp:

  • Democracy means decentralisation of power and giving more and more power to the people. Local self governments are looked upon as instruments of decentralisation and participatory democracy.
  • To examine the working of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better working, the GoI appointed a committee in January, 1957 under the chairmanship of Balwant Rai G Mehta.
  • The committee submitted its report in November, 1957 and recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic decentralisation’, which ultimately came to be known as Panchayati Raj or unit of Local Self Government.
  • Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Mains

Q. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economies? (2014)

Source: IE