Mumbai : The once-unified resistance in Dharavi’s Kumbharwada against the government-led redevelopment survey is beginning to fracture, as political pressure and internal community rifts come to the fore.
For months, several residents put up a strong front opposing survey activities that precede redevelopment. However, recent developments suggest that the resistance is increasingly being influenced by a few politically connected individuals and powerful businessmen, who are allegedly derailing the process for personal gain.
Sources reveal that fear and confusion are being intentionally spread among the locals by mischief-makers, discouraging residents from participating in the redevelopment initiative. Despite this, several Kumbharwada residents have quietly approached the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) helpline, expressing their willingness to be surveyed and a desire for new, secure homes.
“When DRP teams arrived for the survey, they were obstructed twice by local activists,” a DRP official confirmed, adding that the supposed protests often involve calculated tactics meant to stall progress.
Residents now say that the real conflict is no longer between the community and the government, but within the community itself. Many Kumbhar families have moved out of Dharavi and only return seasonally to benefit from pottery sales during festive periods, further complicating the scenario.
“There are families still living here in hutments who desperately want redevelopment, but their voices are being drowned by a few who stand to gain by blocking it,” said one resident.
Basic sanitation remains a major concern. Residents cite filthy public toilets as a daily challenge and stress that proper housing is essential for future generations. “Just give us assurance of new homes, and everyone will support the survey,” one local urged.
The DRP stated that 90% of Dharavi has been surveyed, with a few holdout pockets like Kumbharwada and Compound 13. “This is a housing-for-all project, and we are ready. But there must be a deadline for everything,” a DRP official said.
Meanwhile, reports emerged that certain individuals have been coercing residents of Wadi 5 and nearby areas into withdrawing from the survey — even after their homes were already marked — highlighting the political motivations behind the opposition.
As the eligibility survey nears its end, the future of Kumbharwada now hinges on whether more residents can resist these divisive pressures and come forward to secure their place in the redevelopment plan.
