- Dharavi, one of the largest slums in Asia has been undergoing a redevelopment process called Dharavi Redevelopment Plan for almost 16 years
- The most recent project under this plan is being undertaken by MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) and Seclink Technology (A Dubai based private builder) for different sectors of Dharavi
- The plan follows an in-situ approach of redevelopment, according to which residents will be shifted to a transit camp till the completion of the rehabilitation process
- Mahul Transit Camp (already functional since a decade) is one such example being considered to temporarily house residents shifting from Sector 5 of Dharavi under MHADA
- Mahul, Chembur is a heavily industrialized area housing industries like oil refineries and fertilizer factories
- It is a living hazard for transit camp residents with polluted water supply and toxic air quality causing life threatening illnesses
- The "camp" faces Government neglect, has limited access to basic services and it's isolated location results in a serious disruption of residents' livelihoods
- There is an uncertainty with the duration of stay for residents, often taking many years, resulting in adverse impact on their health, livelihoods and social networks
- The lack of documentation and transparent engagement with residents during the rehabilitation process leads to ambiguity, adding to the existing crises
- This Katputli Colony project is Delhi's first in-Situ Slum rehabilitation project handled by DDA (Delhi Development Authority), a home to puppeteers, artists and performers situated in Delhi's Shadipur Region
- Undertaken by Raheja Developers, the plan proposes qualified residents to be evicted and resettled in high rise apartments within 3-5 years, while they live in a transit camp
- The process of choosing the transit camp met many roadblocks with the allocated area being changed four times due to resistance from residents. Finally, Anant Parbat and Sector 18 in Rohini were chosen as the sites for these camps
- The transit camps were made of temporary box-like structures made of gypsum boards with a single fan, a single electrical outlet and no provision for water, sewage and sanitation facilities
- These provisions weren't received well by all residents due to the lack of sanitation facilities and storage spaces
- The project is still incomplete, leaving they residents waiting. They claim corruption from the end of Community Leaders as one of the reasons of this delay
- The living conditions have also resulted in women feeling unsafe and restricted. Large families are cramped into a small space. In addition, schools are quite distant from the camp
- The lack of knowledge regarding the time and the process adds to the concerns