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Maharashtra

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

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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.

Crime

Mumbai Shocker! Man Shot, Stabbed To Death In Kurla; 3 Arrested

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Mumbai: A shocking incident has come to light from Mumbai’s Kurla, where a man was shot and stabbed to death. According to the Mumbai Police, three accused have been arrested in the case.

the incident took place on April 29 at around 10 pm near Pipeline Block No. 3 in Kurla’s V B Nagar. The deceased, identified as Baba Pawar, was shot by one person while two others stabbed him.

After the information was received, Pawar was rushed to Bhabha Hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

A case was registered at V B Nagar police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act for murder and other offences. Later, it was reported that the police arrested all the three accused involved in the crime. Currently, further investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and motive behind the gruesome killing.

Meanwhile, in another recent incident, a man allegedly stabbed a shopkeeper five to six times after thinking that he and his brother were laughing at him. The incident occurred in Agripada’s Baby Garden area, where two brothers were chatting and laughing over something in their shop.

When the accused arrived at the shop, he thought the two brothers were laughing and mocking him and in a sudden outburst, Mansuri pulled out a knife and attacked one of the brothers multiple times. 

Prior to this, another stabbing incident took place in Mira Road’s Naya Nagar, where a 31-year-old man, Zaib Zubair Ansari, attacked two security guards after being questioned about their religion. The attack took place near Asmita Grand Mansion in Mira Road East, where two security guards were on duty when Ansari approached them, initially asking for directions to a nearby mosque. Later, Ansari questioned one of the guards about his religion before attacking him with a knife. He then entered the security cabin and allegedly asked the second guard to recite the ‘Kalma’.

Ansari was arrested within hours after police reviewed CCTV footage. He was later produced before a Thane district court, which remanded him to police custody until May 4.

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Maharashtra

Marathi language requirement: Senior drivers should be given concessions for their language skills, no one’s permit should be cancelled immediately on the basis of language: Abu Asim

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has requested Transport Minister Pratap Sarmaik to provide relaxation to rickshaw and taxi drivers in the matter of Marathi language mandatory from May 1 and give them time to learn Marathi. In a letter, Azmi said that the new Marathi mandatory law will come into effect from May 1, 2026. This has created a wave of concern among rickshaw and taxi drivers, especially the elderly. The purpose of any law is reformative, but it should not take away anyone’s livelihood. Maharashtra is a state that provides employment to citizens across the country, and this is the real identity of our state. Many drivers who have settled here from other states have received education in their mother tongue, so we cannot deny the fact that they need time to learn Marathi. From a scientific point of view, it becomes difficult to learn a new language after the age of 45 to 50. Therefore, I demand that this rule be restricted to the youth between the ages of 18 and 45 and that experienced and senior drivers be completely exempted from it. For such drivers who are the sole breadwinners of their families, the government should appoint a special officer and give them an extension of at least two years so that their livelihood is not disrupted. Moreover, the language test format should be simplified and made online, with drivers getting at least four chances every year. It would be unfair to cancel permits just because of language. Another important point is that there is no such strictness on the use of Marathi in the corporate sector, as this sector is considered a major source of income for the state. However, we should not forget that rickshaw and taxi drivers are also an important part of the state’s economy. They serve the public from morning till late at night. When big corporate houses can get relaxation and flexibility in language regulations, why burden these low-income drivers, who toil all day in the sun and rain, with strict regulations? Justice should be equal for all. Therefore, instead of imposing regulations, the government should set up free training centers at the ward level. We should understand that if thousands of drivers become unemployed, the possibility of an increase in crime due to economic hardship in the society cannot be ruled out. According to Article 21 of the Constitution of India, every citizen has the right to live with dignity and earn his livelihood. The Supreme Court has also clarified in the Olga Telles vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation case that the right to livelihood is an integral part of the right to life. Therefore, cancelling someone’s permit just because they do not know the language would be a violation of the Supreme Court’s decision. Azmi requested Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to consider this principle not as a mere political issue but as an educational and social campaign to maintain the inclusive tradition of Maharashtra by giving adequate time to drivers from migrant migrant states to learn Marathi and by giving appropriate concessions to senior citizens.

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Maharashtra

Bhiwandi Samadia School road in dilapidated condition, Eknath Shinde assures of resolution of public issues and redressal of complaints

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi met the Deputy Chief Minister of the state Eknath Shinde and gave him a memorandum and demanded the completion of the project related to public interest and to take necessary steps regarding the problems and development projects of Bhiwandi. He gave details of the problems faced by the people of Bhiwandi and demanded their solution. Azmi said that the main road from Samadia Bagh to Samadia School is completely dilapidated and only potholes and mud tracks are visible on the road. More than 1,000 children are studying in Samadia School, due to which the students, their parents and passers-by are facing a lot of problems. Keeping in mind the rainy season, Azmi requested that all the work be completed before the rains to avoid mud and accidents. He said that the VP Stadium of Bhiwandi West is a big stadium for local players and senior citizens, but today it is also in a dilapidated condition. The condition of the ground is very poor, the jogging track is broken, and during the rains it becomes difficult to practice due to waterlogging. Therefore, the Sports Department should be directed to immediately provide necessary funds for the reconstruction and repair of the stadium, so that the youth can get better sports facilities. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured positive steps on public interest issues.

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