Connect with us
Friday,10-October-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Illegal Constructions In Mumbai’s Dharavi Under Scrutiny: Drone Survey To Serve As Benchmark

Published

on

Mumbai: All illegal constructions in Dharavi must stop immediately, a DRP official has said. A 2023 drone survey will serve as benchmark to identify existing tenements and vacant land within the Dharavi Notified Area (DNA). Any new structures or extensions built after this survey will be flagged as illegal and may not qualify for redevelopment benefits. 

These illegal setups include any new upper floors, retrofitted tenements and new constructions on any vacant land in DNA to secure homes under the Dharavi redevelopment scheme. “Coordinated action will be taken by DRP & Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). If needed, DRP will consider seriously the possibility of debarring such tenements from rehabilitation package and benefits thereof,” DRP CEO SVR Srinivas said.  

After decades of failed attempts, the long-awaited redevelopment of Asia’s largest and India’s most unique slum has finally begun. However, the greed of a few residents and influence of the land mafia have fuelled unauthorised constructions leading to unchecked encroachments and worsening living conditions in Dharavi. 

In 2019, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had undertaken a massive demolition drive in Dharavi. The then Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G-North Ward, Kiran Dighavkar, had said that unauthorised construction was a “recurring problem”, and the BMC would identify the perpetrators as “mafia”. “We will identify them as mafia who aid in illegal construction and the police will take action against them under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act,” he had said.  

In December 2023, the BMC had written to the Collector’s office requesting action against such encroachments. While notices were issued, only a few structures were demolished, highlighting the extent of the challenge.  

However, real Dharavikars are eager to get on with the redevelopment and are rooting for progress. They fear that without immediate intervention like the ongoing redevelopment, Dharavi will become more unmanageable, with public health and infrastructure deteriorating further. Dharavikars are glad that the redevelopment project has finally begun.  

Under provisions of current tender: 

• Ground floor residents who settled in Dharavi before Jan 1, 2000, will receive 350 sq ft homes within Dharavi, free of cost. 

• Ground floor residents, who settled between Jan 1, 2000, and Jan 1, 2011, will receive 300 sq ft houses outside Dharavi, at a nominal cost of Rs 2.5 lakh, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).  

• All upper floor structures up to Nov 15, 2022, and ground floor tenements constructed between Jan 1, 2011, and Nov 15, 2022, will be offered rented accommodation with an option of hire-purchase outside Dharavi. They will be entitled to 300 sq ft houses.  

• All new townships for ineligible Dharavikars will be built within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). 

“The government’s door-to-door survey, which recently crossed 50,000 tenements, marks a significant step in identifying eligible beneficiaries and ensuring a planned rehabilitation for all Dharavikars. The project’s numbers are visible now and it gives us hope,” said a Dharavi resident on condition of anonymity. “Illegal structures have made life unbearable, but proper redevelopment like this will bring order and improve our living conditions,” he added. 

Residents, whether housed within Dharavi or resettled outside, will be accommodated in modern integrated townships. The goal of this massive human-centric redevelopment is based on an array of social, environmental and economic objectives with Dharavikars at its core. Officials and residents are optimistic that with structured planning and strict enforcement, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will put an end to illegal constructions and transform today’s slum into a world-class living space.

Maharashtra

In the Nawab Malik and Hasinia Parker case, the accused was arrested for cheating in the name of digital arrest

Published

on

Mumbai: Police have arrested an accused who had deposited Rs 15 lakh in a bank account by threatening to arrest former minister Nawab Malik and Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parker in the money laundering case. He had called Delhi Police headquarters and said that there was a money laundering case against the complainant and that his account details had been used in the transactions of Nawab Malik and Haseena Parker, so he needs to be investigated and he is a digital arrestee. The caller had identified himself as DSP Bhupesh Kumar and SP Gopesh Kumar over the phone, after which the police registered a case of fraud. The complainant was also given a fake arrest warrant from the CBI, on which his name was also mentioned, and was instructed to deposit Rs 15 lakh for verification of the funds. This amount was deposited in a Federal Bank account, out of which Rs 5 lakh was transferred to the Bank of Baroda. The details of the accused were found out from the account hold and then the police arrested the accused from Sangli district. He was identified as Vikas Sambhaji Chavan. The accused was arrested and presented in court. A criminal case has also been registered against the accused in Mumbai and Rajasthan. This action was carried out by Joint Police Commissioner Lakshmi Gautam and DCP Parshottam Karad on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. The police have appealed that there is no law called digital arrest and the CBI, ED and any agency cannot make digital arrest and no law in the Indian Constitution allows for digital arrest. No, that’s why people should be careful.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Waris Pathan knows what Nitesh Rane is doing. Nitesh Rane’s threat to Pathan.

Published

on

Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP leader and minister Nitesh Rane once again spewed venom against Muslims and said that this is not his father’s Pakistan and Karachi but a Hindu Rashtra and a government of Deva Bhau, in such a situation, if anyone tries to disrupt the order and atmosphere, he will be given a response. Nitesh Rane targeted AIMIM national chief Asaduddin Owaisi and said that the place where Owaisi’s rally was held is not Ahmednagar but Ahlia Nagar. The government has changed the names of Ahmednagar and Aurangabad, despite this, people avoid calling Ahmednagar Ahlia Nagar and Aurangabad Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Such people do not follow the Constitution of India but follow Sharia. He said that if Owaisi tries to disrupt the atmosphere of the state, the government will be forced to consider whether to give him permission to hold a rally or not because he comes here for his political rally.

Threatening Advocate Waris Pathan, Nitesh Rane said that Waris Pathan knows what Nitesh Rane is. He said that Waris Pathan should fix the time and place, Nitesh Rane will definitely come, then we will know what will happen. Nitesh Rane, while showing provocation against Muslims, said that when the idol of our gods and goddesses is desecrated and subjected to violence, where does brotherhood go and where does the Constitution of India go then? He said that if anyone tries to disturb the peace of the state, then he should know that here is the Hindutva Valley government of Devendra Fadnavis.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Anti-drug rally of Govindi Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi

Published

on

Mumbai: A massive anti-drug rally was taken out today under the leadership of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi to draw attention to the serious problem of drug addiction and illegal drug trade in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency and to create public awareness against it.

Thousands of workers and local citizens participated in the rally. Protesters took to the streets and demanded strict action against the illegal drug trade and appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs.
The main objective of the rally was to free the youth of the area from the clutches of drugs and to put pressure on the administration to stop this illegal trade. Abu Asim Azmi himself led the rally and stressed the need for immediate and strict action against the drug problem in the area. Not only party workers but also a large number of mothers, sisters, young and old citizens of the area participated in the demonstration, highlighting the seriousness of the problem.

The drug problem in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency has been a topic of discussion for many years and it is badly affecting the lives of local citizens. By organizing this rally, MLA Azmi has once again shown his determination to solve this important problem faced by the citizens of his constituency. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Abu Asim Azmi warned the administration: “Immediate and strict action should be taken against those involved in the illegal drug trade, otherwise the Samajwadi Party and the local citizens will intensify the protest.” The rally proved to be an important rally in drawing attention to the social and health problems of the Mankhurdshivaji Nagar area.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending