One of the world’s richest men wants to transform India’s biggest slum

When Masoom Ali Shaikh arrived in Mumbai in 1974 as a young man from northern India, the patch of land where he set up shop was just a creek with no proper road and garbage all around, he said.. . Fifty years later, that swampy area once a fishing village and rubbish dump is now Dharavi, one of Asias biggest slums and a bustling hub of industry in Indias financial capital.. . Famously depicted in the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, Dharavi is acacophonous maze of small businesses on every corner, from bakeries to butchers to barbers..

However, many residents fear their livelihoods could now be at risk as the slum prepares to undergo a drastic transformation, overseen by one of Asias richest men.. . Over the decades, there have been several failed attempts to redevelop Dharavi, a process which experts say has always been politically fraught for several reasons: the sheer scale and density of the slum and the high value of its land in central Mumbai, for starters.. . Residents and authorities point to the slums myriad problems, including extreme crowdedness and poor sanitation..

In response to CNNs request for comment, a spokesperson from the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Ltd (DRPPL) said the project was committed to fulfilling Dharavis needs and providing residents with new homes with better amenities, accessibility, and resources...

According to the DRPPL spokesperson, ground-floor residents who lived in Dharavi before the year 2000 will be granted a free unit within the area that is at least 350 square feet.. . Higher-floor residents, or those who lived there between 2000 and 2011, will receive a 300-square-foot home following a one-time payment of 250,000 rupees (about $3,000), located within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of Dharavi.. ..

But, he added, many businesses have changed hands over the years, leaving new owners without the proper documents.. . Baburao Mane, a former elected state assembly member affiliated with the opposition party, and a Dharavi native himself, has led some of the most vocal protests against the Adani plan, including a rally in December that saw thousands of people march to Adanis offices in Mumbai.. ..

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