Past programs of Government to develop Dharavi
In early part of 1985, the then Prime Minister Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi earmarked / sanctioned Rs.100 crores for the improvement of infrastructure and housing for the whole Island city of Bombay, and a third of that sum was reserved for Dharavi. The Prime Minister’s Grant Project (PMGP) was initiated in 1987 and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) was declared as Special Planning Authority (SPA) for Dharavi. Under the project about 27 buildings with number of houses were built thereby giving shelter to good number of families.
Later on, after the year 1995, under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRA) 86 Schemes were approved in Dharavi in the period upto 2004. Majority of the Schemes were based on TDR (Transferred Development Rights) and the TDR generated from these projects were sold for use outside Dharavi. Most of the schemes under SRA were along the major developed roads of Dharavi. No major S.R Schemes were proposed in the interior part of Dharavi due to inadequate access and also due to the presence of larger number of commercial / industrial units. These schemes were scattered in whole of Dharavi and buildings were coming up in sporadic manner along the existing roads. The SRA schemes lacked the much needed emphasis on holistically planned urban development including development of new roads, water and sewerage and other amenities. Major part of Dharavi remained in undeveloped and unhygienic condition.
