Dharavi Kumbharwada: Ghanshorebhai Tank on Redevelopment Scheme
Director: Richa Hushing; Cinematographer: Tapan Vyas
Duration: 00:23:09; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 13.827; Saturation: 0.053; Lightness: 0.301; Volume: 0.176; Cuts per Minute: 1.727; Words per Minute: 69.500
Summary: Dharavi is popularly termed as the largest slum in Asia. Known to be one of the densest and most layered human settlements in the world, the origin of Dharavi can be traced back to early 20th Century, at the height of the industrialization in the region. Dharavi is an area, which was originally located at the northern periphery of Bombay, but with boundaries of this ever-growing city constantly extending on all sides it has come to occupy prime location today. Today, according to official records, Dharavi is marked as an area spread over 223 hectares, where as many as 18,000 people crowd into a single acre. A 1986 survey by the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) counted 530,225 people (106,045 households) living in 80,518 structures. But considering the large number of ‘unofficial/illegal’ migration influx, the real number of people living in Dharavi is likely to be much more. Home to approximately one million people, Dharavi populace includes diverse language groups, religious communities and economic units. Most of the citizens of Dharavi are urban artisans, functioning out of the outer space of their one-storey shanties. This seamlessness in working and living space, over the decades, has resulted not only in high number of female wage earners but also facilitated occupations to an entire family, making it some sort of a family business. Currently, Dharavi is in the eye of a storm as the prime land that it occupies needs to be ‘re-developed’ to keep in pace with the economic globalization that is sweeping the city. Bombay, the supposed trade capital of India and India, the media acclaimed neo-Asian tiger of the international market, needs to grab more land and the old fashioned settlement of Dharavi must go in order to facilitate that. Currently the whole settlement – the residents’ associations, the govt., the international builders’ lobby as well as the civil society in Bombay are engaged in intense debate and complex maneuvering to extract the best possible deal out of this. But the problem is what is best for one of these sectors can be considered damaging by the other sector. Dharavi has been divided into 5 administrative sectors to facilitate the development process in smaller chunks. Besides the neighbourhoods are also determined by community occupations and infrastructures – such as Kumbharwada (potters’ colony), Koliwada (fisherman’s colony) etc.
Following is an encounter with a resident of Kumbharwada (Potters’ colony), Mr. Ghanshodbhai Tank. Kumbharwada is the most organized and prosperous settlement in Dharavi. This house in Kumbharwada Wadi no 1. Kumbharwada is broadly divided in 4 wadis according to the date of inception. The Wadi 1 is the oldest and still has some old mud houses with innovative architectural features. Hence they enjoy better visibility and media presence than the other communities and occupations in Dharavi. There are 150 kilns (bhattis in local language) in wadi 1. The other wadas (sectors) are less spectacular with smaller houses, less number of kilns, and less facilities in terms of shop outlets. Wada no 4 is a Muslim majority settlement and situated in the interior of Dharavi. Some residents of Kumbharwada, specially from wadi 1 are organized in a outfit named after their caste ‘Prajapati’. Many of them believe that they would be able to use this clout effectively and would achieve a role of participation in the model of ‘redevelopment’ to be followed. Ghanshodbhai Tank is one of the major voices for development, albeit in his own terms. He owns a beautiful large house with two workshop units and two residential buildings spread in multiple floors and two round Kilns (goal bhattis). Round kilns are rare, more efficient and of superior architecture. The floor space of Ghashodbhai’s house will be around 5000 square feet.
Shot by Tapan Vyas.
A early evening in the wadi no 1 in the Kumbharwada. Wide low angle shot of the sky above Kumbharwada (potters' colony). The asbestos rooftops enmeshed in electricity wires and television cables. Above that hang the black smoke coming out of the kilns where the earthen wares are being baked. Outdoor of a house/workshop. In the courtyard lay sacks of clay. A large wheel lies in the courtyard – reminiscence of the hand driven potters' wheel which is now extinct. In the entire Kumbharwada there is only one hand driven potters' wheel functioning. The smoke is overwhelming – it seems to descend on the settlement rather than rising up. It is the solid particles in the smoke which causes the descend. The smoke from the kiln and the resulted health hazard has been at the centre of the argument in favour of demolishing the Dharavi slum and redevelop it as modern township. Earlier when the textile industry was functioning the potters used cotton waste (the parts of the cotton stock which could not be made into good thread) to light their kiln. The smoke of that fire was not so deadly. But with the collapse of the textile industry the provision of cotton waste has stopped. Hence the potters are forced to use synthetic material to light the fire. The synthetic material produces more carbon monoxide. So the current situation has become more hazardous than in earlier days. This is an example of disruption of urban ecology. There are about 400 kilns (bhatti in local language) of various sizes in the Kumbharwada. Out of that 150 belongs to the sector 1. The division of work for the potters are: making the soil, running the wheels, making moulds, drying the unbeaked wares in sunlight, lighting kiln fire, loading and unloading, polishing, colouring and marketing. These tasks are divided along the class and gender lines. For example women are never allowed to sit on the potters' wheel. But many daily wage laboureres work on the wheels of their employers. There is only one woman in the entire Kumbharwada who lights kiln. Many people own kilns and rent them out and not produce anything themselves. There are a large number of casual labourers who belong to the Kumbharwada and part of the community. But there are also wage labourers in Kumbharwada who are migrants from other parts of the country. Camera is inside the workshop structure where the small earthen wares such as diyas (oil lamps) are being made. These diyas are used in various religious purposes and social festivals such as marriage ceremonies. One woman, a casual labour, talks to her daughter. The daughter in school uniform has just come back from school and the woman is in a hurry to finish her daily work and go back home. The woman polishes the earthen wares. Small earthen pots are stacked high next to her. Little domestic exchange between the mother and the daughter. The woman climbs up a ladder to what seems a kind of a mezzanine floor. The old woman, mother of Ghanshodbhai seems more accommodating and hospitable.Though the house looks rustic in its appearance, the living quarter has all the modern amenities such as computers and air conditioner.
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Ambience sound of a densely populated settlement. The girl in school uniform to her mother: Is it done? Are they taking our photos?Q: What is your name?The girl: Jyotsna.Q: What class do you study?The girl: 6th Standard.Q: You live here? (the girl nods). Don't you find it difficult due to the smoke?The girl: Yes… I do… The eyes burn…Q: What? Please speak little loudly…(Some exchanges between the mother and the daughter in Gujarati)The old woman: Go upstairs… go… the work is going on…
cityscape
clay
courtyard
dharavi
earthenware
family
female potter
housing
kiln
kumbharwada
ladder
livelihood
living quarter
mumbai
naked wire
potters' colony
redevelopment
school uniform
shanty
sky
smoke
urban artisans
Kumbharwada, off 90 feet road, Dharavi, Mumbai
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
The camera climbs up the short ladder to a workshop at the upper level. Potters' wheel is running busily and few unbaked pots are lying around. At the corner of the space is another ladder leading to the 2nd floor and then to the roof top. On the rooftop – trays full of unbaked earthen pots, plates and diyas (oil lamps) drying in the sunlight. The architecture of the Wadi no 1 is also known for its flat roof facility for sun drying the earthen pots. This facility is generally not available in other wadis. Sun drying is an intermediary stage between making the pots and baking them. Yet some small and cheap goods do not go to kilns for baking and get baked only in the sunlight. Some precious wares such as polished pots or coloured pots are dried in the sun again after all the accessory works are completed. Hence an adjacent large space for sunlight is an extremely important part of potters' work requirement. This factor determines the architecture of the house. Terraces, courtyards, wide window sills and balconies are used for this purpose. These spaces also provide a double function of storage facility. The woman passes trays full of sun dried wares through a hole on the roof. Her assistants take the trays from the lower level and carry them outside for baking in the fire. This is an ideal example of multi-layered indigenous architecture. At ground level is the living quarters and storage space for raw material where the polishing and painting works also take place. The middle level is the clay workshop and the rooftop is used for sun drying.
architecture
asbestos
baking
cityscape
clay
collective
dharavi
diyas
earthenware
family occupation
female potter
housing
kiln
kumbharwada
lamps
livelihood
mezzanine
mumbai
plates
pots
potters' colony
potters' wheel
redevelopment
relay
smoke
space design
split level
sun dry
sunlight
terraces
trays
urban artisans
workshop
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Wide shot of the terraces in Kumbharwada. On the asbestos terraces at different heights lay hundreds of earthen pots, plates and tubs – being sun dried. The black clay wares are generally used for inferior quality goods such as diyas (oil lamps) or small pots. The red clay is used for high end products which are also baked in kilns (bhattis). Though there is also some fine quality black clay. The convenient space design facilitates easy movement of goods from one level to the other. Windows, doors, terraces, balconies, ladders – all exist at various levels and often overlap on each other. The smoke from the kiln envelops the settlement creating a surreal effect. In the busy season the Kilns are lit on every alternate evening. The cycle of a kiln is such: whole day loading the unbaked pots, evening lighting the kiln, the fire baking goes on for around 12 hours, the kiln cools down by afternoon and then unloading the wares… next morning loading again… So the smoke of the kilns always come up around the evening. The common joke in the neighbourhood: so and so is so greedy that he lights 'bhatti' in day time too. The whole family is engaged with the activity of laying the wares for drying in the sun or carrying the dried wares down to the kiln. A loss of this work environment to a more professional and exclusive work space would mean less participation of the women at work.
architecture
asbestos
baking
balcony
cityscape
dharavi
door
family occupation
female potter
housing
kiln
kumbharwada
ladder
landscape
livelihood
mumbai
plates
pots
potters' colony
redevelopment
smoke
space design
split level
sun dry
sunlight
surreal
terrace
tubs
urban artisans
window
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Shot of a terrace. Through the haze of smoke we can see a child playing kites and while his mother lays earthen pot for dying in the sun. In another terrace a woman polishes a large size baked pot. Exactly below that space is where the women polish the baked pots in Ghashodbhai's workshop (please see the event ' Dharavi Female Artisans: Gender, Space & Neighbourhood' in this site).The burst of black smoke continues to blow around them. The sequence reminds one of the film 'I don't want to sleep alone' by Tsai Ming-Liang . This smoke from the kiln is often cited as one of the main reasons behind the 'redevelopment' scheme. The idea is to shift the dwellings to multi-storied apartment buildings and provide separate work space with modernized facilities. Is the only way to save these potters' families from the deadly smoke is to kill them by destroying their space and livelihood? The centralized and moderenised workspace – most probably with gas kilns - in the redeveloped Dharavi will be available on high rent. There have been attempts to convert the present kilns into gas kilns to avoid the heath hazard. Butthe escalating price of fuel can render the venture completely impractical. Additionally the homogenized dwellings will no more be conducive to pottery work and thus the workshops will be forced to shift in a separately designated space. That will severely affect the women's participation in the work force. How would that system be economically viable for a community of artisans?
apartment
architecture
building
child
cityscape
dharavi
dwelling
economically
facility
family occupation
female potter
homogenized
housing
i don't want to sleep alone
kiln
kite
kumbharwada
livelihood
modernized
mother
multi-purpose
mumbai
potters' colony
redevelopment
smoke
space design. split level
sun dry
sunlight
terrace
tsai ming liang
urban artisans
viable
women workers
work space
Another terrace – full of drying earthen wares. There is a dark room in the corner which looks more like an attic. In that dark room near the door opening sitting on a potters' wheel is Ghanshodbhai Tank, popularly called Tankbhai in the neighbourhood. He is very active in the re-development related meetings and mobilization. Though a graduate he chose to remain in the field of pottery and did not opt for office jobs like many others. The kiln smoke flies around. He talks to us while working on the potters' wheel with habitual ease. He seems to be quite comfortable in front of the camera. The recent debate around issues of development has brought a lot of media attention on Dharavi. Through that process some people have developed certain articulation and skill to handle media. Tank is one of them. His house is one of the most spacious and picturesque houses in Kumbharwada. So the media attention regularly falls on him and his house.
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Tank: Development is must … whether government does it not, we will. We are ready. But we want it to happen on our own terms. Because its necessary to do the development now… you are on the third floor now and you must have seen around, there is too much dirt here. It would do good to systematize it a little. But we want it our way. Q: will it happen your way ?Tank: why not? On this 13 acre of land its all kumbharwada, potters' colony. We will not leave this place just like that.We will give a tough fight. Ultimately what the almighty wants will happen. But we will not let it go.
articulation
camera
cityscape
cleansing
dharavi
dirt
fight
interview
kiln
kunbharwada
livelihood
media
media savvy
potters' colony
potters' wheel
protagonist
redevelopment
smoke
squatters
tank
terrace
urban artisans
worker
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Q: what exactly is this redevelopment plan?
Tank: The government has floated SRA (slum rehabilitation authority) scheme, right ? It means you would get 225 sq feet… if you have documents of 1995 (papers proving residency in the same place since 1995) If you are here since 1995 then SRA will give you 225 sq ft. It is irrelevant for them whether currently you posses 1000 sq ft or 2000 sq ft. This 225 sq ft is also only for the residence purpose. Now if you see our houses form inside we have about 1000 sq ft land… why will we agree for 225? Then what business can we run? This business of pottery that you are seeing, if it stops what will we eat? Think of that first. So far no one has sat on the table face to face. Only media writes something… they come to us and we say something… then the government claims something else, Mukesh Metha says something… the architect of this place… all different talks happen. But as long as all parties concern does not sit face to face, it's going to be difficult. But its cooling down now… as elections are coming in two years… after that it will start again …
Tank is one of the people who believe that they can force the authority to make the residents of Dharavi a part of the decision making body. That actually may happen, atleast on paper. But how will the representation be worked out? Obviously one million people of Dharavi cannot be categorized as a homogenized group. Tank and others in Kumbhawada know that they are a forceful entity with precious land in their control. They hope to strike a good deal in the bargain with the authority.Slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) is a body under the urban planning department in the government. A special body DRP (Dharavi redevelopment project) under the supervision of SRA has been assigned to implement the Dharavi redevolpment scheme. Previous SRA buildings in Mumbai is already showing disastrous result. Under this scheme high rise buildings are to house the dwellers of demolished slums. But often the slum dwellers cannot pay for the maintenance of the buildings. So gradually basic amenities such as electricity, water and lift stop functioning. People attempt to re-start their earlier vocations. So 'illegal' sweat shops of leather works, embroidery, sewing, carpentry etc. start in the small multi-storied dwellings without the basic amenities. Soon the vertical buildings turn into something worse than the horizontal slums. Only that this time it remains concealed within the building structures and does not become visible in general public place. Other than concealing the issue from public eyes this scheme of rehabilitating the slum dwellers achieve very little. But on the other hand it releases vast amount of land for the real estate lobby.
architect
authority
bargain
basic amenities
business
cityscape
decision making body
designer
dharavi
displacement
election
electricity
elevator
government
illegal
kiln
kunbharwada
land
lift
livelihood
media
mukesh mehta
multi-storied building
occupation
one million
policy
population
potters' colony
potters' wheel
pottery
precious
public place
real estate lobby
redevelopment
relocation
representation
scheme
slum rehabilitation authority
smoke
square feet
sra
sweat shop
terrace
urban artisans
vertical slum
water
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Tank takes a pause from talking. He places new clay on the wheel and skillfully tends to it. In recent years lot of media shootings happened in his house. His knowledge of working English also must have contributed to it. US based architect Mukesh Mehta is the appointed consultant-designer for the Dharavi redevelopment. Ha is appointed by the govt. as an independent consultant allegedly for a whipping fee of Rs. 900,00,000/-. He has been lobbying with the govt. bureaucrats for last ten years to develop a policy for Dharavi redevelopment. His main contribution to this effect is that he has managed to convince the Govt. that the development needs to be done under a comprehensive scheme for entire Dharavi, instead of working on piece meal. He had submitted a plan which was accepted by the Govt. in 2004. Based on which the Govt. had issued call for international competitive tenders. But Mr. Mehta's scheme came under severe criticism as it had an extremely broad approach. The scheme did not address the issues of infrastructure, livelihood rehabilitation, internal economic ecology of the settlement, consent and consultation with the residents or enviormental issues such as marsh land, low line area etc. According to Mukesh Mehta's scheme these issues would be tackled and negotiated by each of the independent builders who would be awarded the tender to do the construction in the 10 different sectors of Dharavi. His plan projected the situation as a win-win case where the 'authorised' slum dwellers get free modern housing and amenities, middle class gains more residential and commercial space, government makes substantial money, huge works get generated for the construction industry and the city gets cleansed. This issue has raised a lot of debates. Currently the govt. has put a pause on processing the international tenders. The Kumbharwada residents are hoping to derive some benefits from the fact that they belong to the same language group as Mr. Mehta. It is quite intriguing to see such identity nuances still working even under the face of the gigantic global project such as 're-developing' Dharavi and the related issues of displacement. Or maybe it is a desperate attempt to salvage something out of this.
Tank: In the discovery channel, there in an editor called Mr. Mark. You may have heard the name. I got introduced to him first. He was here. He even stayed over night here… with me. He suggested what if Mukesh Mehta comes here. I said he won't come. He said he would. So he fixed up the meeting. We had some talks. He talks just like that. He (Mukesh Mehta ) said, "I am appointed to make designs… which is my job… what to do next is the prerogative of the government. I have nothing to do with that. But yes, what do you people wish, what design you want if you tell me, I could fight for you " Q: So how did you find Mukesh Mehta?Tank: Well. he is a Gujarati… we liked him… like any one Gujarati would like the other… see, its not like that… all men are good… but everyone's thinking is different. His thoughts could be better than our thoughts. But as long as he doesn't meet the public frontally and show us his plans, it is of no use.
architect
bargain
cityscape
consultant
demand
designer
dharavi
discovery channel
discussion
displacement
global project
government
gujarati
housing
idenity
international media
kumbharwada
language affinity
livelihood
mukesh mehta
mumbai
negotiation
public
redevelopment
urban artisans
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Tank: We are not opposed to development policies. We too want development. We also want to do something good, become prosperous. But it should benefit us. What is the definition of development? You tell me. (in English) Development means what? Can you tell me? Erect a 25 storey building - Is that development? In that building you will give me a 225 sq ft flat on top most floor - Is that development? What would be called development? Here they will build world's 2nd number category school… high class… but will my children be able to study in that school? Will that be development? Will my child get admission there? We don't want that kind of development. Along with development we want growth. We want some benefit for our public. Provision for business, livelihood, money should be there. Even in India, you must be knowing, they have started booking tickets for a ride in space. 100 crores (Rs. 100,00,00,000) per ticket. Even we want to travel in space... So even we would need to earn that much, right? So I need growth… From where will I earn that much? I have dream of hundred crores (10000,00,000)… but when will I earn that much? From here only. But whatever 10 rupees I am earning even that is getting endangered now.
With superb articulation Ghanshodbhai Tank explains the relationship between urban development and sustainable social development. He is aware of the fact that the authority's proposal for development means gentrification of the area. So the benefits of the development – such as fancy offices and elite schools would be beyond his reach. He also knows that the homogenising re-location scheme is unlikely to consider the 'value' of the space that they currently occupy and require for their work. He is also aware that the official campaign for development would always receive wide support from the general public. Thus he starts the interview with the statement that Dharavi needs to be cleaned up. This is his way of check mating the official campaign for demolishing Dharavi on the issue of public health. Yet he is hopeful that a good bargain in their favour can be worked out. This issue shows the class structure within Dharavi. Many of the potters belong to a comparatively organized and landed community. So they want to be with the government and work out a deal as the price for relocation. Whereas people in less organized sectors and with no bargaining power based on any kind of land possession feel much more threatened by the 'development' scheme.
ambition
aspiration
benefit
business
campaign
cityscape
desire
dharavi
earning
economy
elite
employment
eviction
gentrification
growth
housing
kumbharwada
livelihood
multi-storied building
mumbai
redevelopment
reimbursement
ride to space
school
social development
space
sustainable development
threat
urban artisans
urban planning
value
13 acres means 520,000 square feet land this is. This is plain simple calculation. You get 4 FSI on that.(FSI -floor space index. It is a ratio of permissible construction area to the plot area. It is a very contested issue in Mumbai. Builders always try to acquire more FSI on a given land) The 4 FSI on Five twenty means around 20 lakhs (20,00,000) square feet construction will be available. Then there are another 80 thousand… so altogether some 20 lakhs and then 80 thousands…. Almost 21 thousand square feet of construction will be available. Out of that how much are they offering us? Out of the basic five lakh twenty thousand square feet they want to squeez in all the Kumbhars (potters) within one lakh square feet. From that land itself they want to take away four lakhs. Are you getting my point? Total construction that they are getting is of 21 lakh square feet and they want to fit the entire Kumbharwada within one lakh square feet. Rest of twenty lakhs square feet they want to eat up by selling out. Well, even we understand this much. We shall not let them eat up the twenty lakhs. They must give us ten lakhs out of that. The other ten they can keep if they want. We can consider that. This is our first issue. Then what to do with the business. Tomorrow if our livelihood gets affected then what will we eat. First lets talk about that and then we will consider other things.How old would Mukesh Mehta be… may be around 50, not more than that. And our ancestors who developed Dharavi, came here more than 100 years ago. They were not my grandfathers but forefathers - who came here. That time this place was barren – no electricity, no shanties, no water, no food… right! Big snakes used to come out, it was a complete jungle… one could see the Mahim station from this point. So… where was government in those days? Those people put their blood into it and developed Dharavi. In those day Dharavi was considered as out of Bombay territory. It was not even part of the suburb. Bombay was upto Mahim. Dharavi was not part of it. Now because it is developed it has become heart of Bombay. Dharavi is now heart of Bombay. So now it has come under scrutiny… thinking there is lot of money in this place. Earn as much as you can out of this. That is why all these people are coming. They are not coming because of us. So, why should we leave? Our ancestors have died here. I have also spent my life… I am old now… why should I leave? We want all the benefit that yields out of this place.
Close up of his hands, hands of a worker, of an artisan. Close shot of his face. He gives a formal interview, the leader of the community. He explains the economy of the real estate and how this whole exercise is basically to facilitate land grabbing. Though he understands the role of the all-powerful builders' lobby in this issue of development, he still believes that the Kumbharwada residents can manage to extract a fair share out of it for themselves.
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
13 acre
ancestors
basic amenities
builders' lobby
calculation
city limit
cityscape
construction measurement
dharavi
economy
electricity
floor space index
forfathers
fsi
government
heart of bombay
housing
interview
jungle
kumbhars
kumbharwada
land measurement
land price
livelihood
mahim station
map
market
migration
mumbai
pioneer
potters
potters' colony
real estate
redevelopment
shanties
square feet
suburb
underdeveloped land
urban artisans
water
wisdom
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
Mid shot of Tank with his working paraphernalia -wheel, clay, unbaked pots etc. By Prajapati he meant the association of the potters in Kumbharwada. Prajapati is the caste name for the Hindu potters from the Kathiawad region of Gujarat. Whereas the Muslim potters in Dharavi have migrated from the Kuchh region of Gujarat. There are also some Bramhin families who opted for pottery and converted themselves to Prajapati. According to Tank the association is waiting for a government notification to arrive. He does not seem to have much faith in the association, though he did not admit it in front of the camera. In January 2008 the government announced a shortlist of 19 builder firms who have applied to the international tenders call for Dharavi re-development. Following the hue and cry from the civil society the processing of the tenders have been stalled for the time being. Presently, some independent committees are appointed to survey various aspects – such as socio-economical, enviornmental etc. – of the settlement. The surveys are suppose to inform the broad development policy. Well, we live in hope and the Kumbharwada lives in anticipation of the official notice.
Q: So you have any organisation?Tank: Yes we have. The Prajapati – you have been there just now. You said you went to Prajapati and had taken permission. Prajapati is our organisation.Q: Is there any benefit in having an organisation?Tank: Benefit means what? They are not consulted either. They said they just got a letter from the Govt. SRA (Slum redevelopment authority)… MHADA (Maharashtra housing and development authority) too have written… whatever to be decided about Kumbharwada… you would be first given a letter, then you would sit on the table to discuss and then only the policy of development be decided. They have not received that letter yet – so they are also sitting quietly. Q: Is there anybody listening to you?Tank: What do you mean? I did not get you.Q: Is anybody from the Govt. side coming to listen to your argument?Tank: That is what I am saying. Until they sit with us on the table… like how you have come and so I can talk to you. If nobody sits in front of me then why should I talk? Whom do I talk to? Whenever something comes… a notice or whatever… then we will see. Now some talk is going on… our local members are talking…We want development. We are not against it. But we want development on our terms. The other day there was a meeting. They said we would take out a protest march… all over Dharavi, somebody else said we would file a case. So we asked, have you received any notice or something? If you go to the police to make complaint they would ask you – has anybody beaten you up? No. Somebody is threatening to beat you up – that would not merit as a complaint. Only when you are actually beaten up – then the complaint will be registered. So keep quiet till we receive the notice. After that we will do something.
anticipation
association
benefit
cityscape
civil society
committee
community
court case
development policy
dharavi
economical survey
geographical survey
government
housing
hue and cry
international tender
kumbharwada
livelihood
maharashtra housing and development authority
mhada
mumbai
negotiation
notice
notification
organization
potters' colony
prajapati
protest march
redevelopment
slum rehabilitation authority
socio-political survey
sra
urban artisans
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
The evening is setting in. The black smoke of the burning kilns still rises towards the sky. The concrete jungle of building blocks of the city outlining Dharavi can be seen at the back ground. Many of these buildings are result of earlier efforts of the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority). The smoke rising from the Khumbharwada of Dharavi rises up and spreads into the city, while the city of urban planning breath down the neck of the low rise settlements of Dharavi. A settlement under smoke!
building blocks
cityscape
concrete jungle
dharavi
evening
kiln
kumbharwada
landscape
potters' colony
settlement
shanties
slum
smoke
Pad.ma requires JavaScript.
