Why delay in Dharavi redevelopment, HC asks state

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought to know from the state government why the redevelopment of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, has been delayed.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought to know from the state government why the redevelopment of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, has been delayed.

A division bench of Justice PB Majmudar and Justice Mridula Bhatkar directed the state government and Mumbai MHADA (Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority) to file affidavits by January 17, in reply to a petition filed by two Dharavi residents, Anand Honkeri (57) and Shaukat Khan (42), stating what had happened to the Rs5,600 crore sanctioned for the redevelopment project.

Honkeri and Khan have approached the high court through advocate Ashutosh Kulkarni seeking orders to expedite redevelopment of Dharavi, which is spread over 174 hectares and houses 69,000 slum dwellers. They have also challenged the recent move to hand over one of the nine sectors for redevelopment to MHADA.

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Besides, they have stated that the housing authority’s track record was pathetic, and fear they might be given sub-standard quality rehabilitation tenements.