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Across several weeks, intimidating communications persisted. Originally, supposedly from an ex-law enforcement official and a former defense officer, subsequently from the police themselves. Finally, a local artisan asserts he was called to the local precinct and told clearly: stop speaking out or experience severe repercussions.

This third-generation resident is part of a group resisting a high-value redevelopment plan where Dharavi – one of India’s largest and most storied slums – will be bulldozed and modernized by a corporate giant.

"The unique ecosystem of the slum is unparalleled in the world," states the resident. "But the plan aims to destroy our community and silence our voices."

Opposing Environments

The narrow alleys of the slum stand in sharp opposition to the towering buildings and elite residences that overshadow the settlement. Residences are built haphazardly and often without proper sanitation, informal businesses emit toxic smoke and the environment is saturated with the overpowering odor of uncovered waste channels.

To some, the promise of Dharavi transformed into a modern district of premium apartments, well-maintained green spaces, modern retail complexes and apartments with two toilets is a hopeful vision come true.

"We don't have proper healthcare, paved pathways or drainage and there's nowhere for kids to enjoy," says A Selvin Nadar, 56, who relocated from Tamil Nadu in the early eighties. "The only way is to tear it all down and provide modern residences."

Local Protest

But others, including this protester, are fighting against the plan.

Everyone acknowledges that Dharavi, consistently overlooked as an illegal encroachment, is urgently needing economic input and modernization. But they are concerned that this plan – lacking community input – is one that will convert premium city property into an elite enclave, forcing out the disadvantaged, working-class residents who have resided there since the late 1800s.

It was these marginalized, relocated individuals who established the vacant wetlands into a widely studied marvel of community resilience and business activity, whose economic value is worth between one million dollars and $2m annually, making it among the globe's biggest unofficial markets.

Displacement Concerns

Among approximately 1 million inhabitants living in the crowded 220-hectare neighborhood, a minority will be eligible for new homes in the project, which is projected to take an extended timeframe to complete. Others will be moved to undeveloped zones and coastal regions on the distant periphery of the city, potentially fragment a long-established community. A portion will not get residences at all.

People eligible to remain in the area will be given flats in tower blocks, a substantial change from the evolved, collective approach of dwelling and laboring that has supported the community for many years.

Industries from clothing production to clay work and material recovery are projected to reduce in scale and be relocated to a designated "industrial sector" separated from homes.

Survival Challenge

For residents like the leather artisan, a craftsman and long-time inhabitant to reside in the slum, the plan presents an existential threat. His rickety, multi-level operation produces leather coats – formal jackets, suede trenches, decorated jackets – distributed in luxury boutiques in south Mumbai and internationally.

Household members resides in the spaces below and laborers and garment workers – laborers from other states – live in the same building, enabling him to afford their labour. Beyond the slum, housing costs are often 10 times costlier for basic accommodation.

Pressure and Coercion

In the government offices close by, an illustrated mock-up of the redevelopment plan shows a contrasting vision for the future. Slickly dressed people mill about on two-wheelers and e-vehicles, buying western-style baguettes and breakfast items and enlisting beverages on an outdoor area adjacent to a coffee shop and dessert parlor. This depicts a complete departure from the affordable idli sambar breakfast and low-cost tea that maintains Dharavi's community.

"This isn't development for our community," says the artisan. "This constitutes an enormous real estate deal that will price people out for our community to continue."

There is also distrust of the business conglomerate. Managed by a prominent businessman – among the country's wealthiest and a close ally of the government head – the business group has encountered allegations of preferential treatment and questionable practices, which it denies.

Even as the state government labels it a collaborative effort, the corporation paid $950m for its 80% stake. Legal proceedings alleging that the project was unfairly awarded to the business group is under review in India's supreme court.

Ongoing Pressure

Since they began to actively protest the project, Shaikh and other residents assert they have been experienced ongoing efforts of harassment and intimidation – comprising messages, direct threats and insinuations that speaking against the initiative was equivalent to speaking against the country – by figures they allege work for the corporate group.

Included in these accused of delivering warnings is {a retired police officer|a former law enforcement official|an ex-c