The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Slum Rehabilitation Authority has rejected claims that residents of Ganesh Nagar-Meghwadi were evicted without prior notice. The action, undertaken on August 6, 2026 was conducted based on prescribed legal process and after providing repeated notices, hearings, along with adequate opportunities for voluntary relocation, the authority said in a statement issued on Friday, August 7.
Under the rehabilitation process, a notice was issued in April 2026 requesting residents of Sector 6 to execute rental agreements and vacate the premises to avoid inconvenience during the monsoon, it said.
Following this, individual vacation notices were issued to all concerned occupants. To address objections, hearings for residents were conducted on July 6 and July 13, 2026, while demolition notices were displayed on July 28, 2026. The demolition action was conducted only after repeated non-compliance.
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Of the sixteen hutments, twelve occupants voluntarily vacated their premises after counselling and communication. Four structures needed removal with police assistance after the occupants consistently denied to comply with the process, the authority said. These structures were required to be removed to facilitate execution of critical public and railway infrastructure project.
Finishing this work is a prerequisite to begin rehabilitation construction at the Mahim and Matunga Railway Lands, the statement said, adding "The rehabilitation process in Ganesh Nagar-Meghwadi has been taken up on priority to safeguard the rehabilitation rights of eligible residents while simultaneously enabling the execution of essential public infrastructure works."
The authority also said that all impacted families are being provided rental assistance irrespective of the final determination of their eligibility. Ground-floor occupants are entitled to monthly rent assistance of Rs 18,000 and upper-floor occupants are eligible to get Rs 15,000 per month. Additionally, beneficiaries are provided a one-time shifting allowance of Rs 5,000, one month's brokerage, and an annual rent escalation of 5% until permanent rehabilitation is completed.
For the residents whose eligibility has not yet been finalised, adequate opportunity will be given to complete the verification process before the government authorities. The process aims to ensure that every eligible family receives the benefits available under the applicable rehabilitation policy.
The slum rehabilitation body further informed, one year's rent assistance is being provided in advance without discrimination. As per the approved payment mechanism, three months' rent will be released upon execution of the rental agreement, while the remaining nine months' rent is disbursed on vacating the premises and handing over possession. The package will include brokerage and shifting assistance, and rental assistanc, credited directly to the head of the household until allotment of permanent rehabilitation housing.
Based on applicable legal provisions, it also clarified that occupants who fail to vacate despite due notice and completion of the legal process are liable for eviction in accordance with law and may forfeit rental assistance and other relocation benefits.
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