Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made a shocking statement regarding the Dharavi redevelopment project, which involves the Adani Group. In a recent interview with India Today, Thackeray declared that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) returns to power, they will cancel the tender awarded to Adani for the Dharavi project.
“We will cancel the tender given to Adani for Dharavi,” Thackeray stated in the interview. He further clarified that Adani was not awarded the tender during his tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Thackeray revealed that the tender for the Dharavi redevelopment project was actually cancelled under his leadership due to concerns about a lack of transparency regarding Adani’s investors, particularly one based in Dubai. He mentioned that his allies were uneasy about the unclear details surrounding these investors.
In 2022, the Maharashtra government awarded the Dharavi redevelopment contract to Adani Realty under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with an estimated project cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
“There was no clarity on who the investor was. Our allies made it clear that this was unacceptable, which led to the cancellation of the tender. However, they (Adani Group) approached the court,” Thackeray explained. He also noted that the tender for the Dharavi project was reissued in July 2022, nearly a month after his government fell in June that year.
Thackeray further questioned the rationale behind awarding the tender to Adani. “Dharavi spans nearly 500 acres, with 4 to 4.5 lakh people living there. Yet, over half of the residents are being labeled ‘ineligible’ and are set to be displaced,” he said.
Thackeray also claimed that the Adani Group had acquired around 1,000 acres of land in Mumbai, including properties like the Salt Pan land, Dahisar and Mulund tolls, and the Kurla Mother Dairy. He pointed out that the Salt Pan land had never been allocated to anyone.
Despite his criticism, Thackeray emphasized that Dharavi’s redevelopment should proceed. “If we come to power, we will cancel the tender given to Adani and ensure that the people of Dharavi are provided with homes in their current locations,” he asserted. He added that every home in Dharavi is also a place of business.
In addition, Thackeray countered the repeated accusations of being “anti-development” against the MVA.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief responded, “How is this anti-development? We built the Coastal Road and the Sewree-Nhava Sheva Road (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link).” He also highlighted that development projects, including metro expansions, continued in Maharashtra even during the coronavirus pandemic.
This is not the first time Thackeray has criticized Adani’s involvement in the Dharavi redevelopment plan. The project aims to provide better housing for the slum’s residents by replacing the current structures with high-rise buildings. Eligible residents will be allocated units in these new developments.
Additionally, the project seeks to enhance basic infrastructure, including roads, sewage systems, water supply, and sanitation. It also includes the construction of schools, hospitals, and parks, while designated areas will be set aside to support local businesses.
Source: msn
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