Mumbai's Battle Over Salt Pans in the Dharavi Redevelopment Saga

Mumbai's Battle Over Salt Pans in the Dharavi Redevelopment Saga

 

Prelude

In the heart of Mumbai, where the Arabian Sea meets a relentless tide of human ambition, lies a profound dilemma: the transformation of Dharavi, Asia's largest informal settlement, through a monumental redevelopment project intertwined with the fate of the city's ancient salt pans. As of January 2026, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), led by Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (an Adani Group-Maharashtra government joint venture), has gained momentum with approved master plans, ongoing surveys numbering over 60,000 tenements, and the allocation of 256 acres of defunct salt pan lands in Mulund, Bhandup, and Kanjurmarg for rehabilitating ineligible residents. This initiative promises modern housing, preserved livelihoods, and economic uplift for over a million people. Yet, it casts a shadow over Mumbai's fragile ecology—these man-made pans, idle since highway disruptions decades ago, now serve as vital flood buffers in a climate-vulnerable city. Here unfolds a tale of progress versus preservation, pragmatism clashing with peril.

 

A city so starved for space that even the ancient salt pans, those humble evaporative basins where seawater once whispered secrets of colonial trade, are now prime real estate. Mumbai, the pulsating heart of India's economy, where dreams are built taller than the monsoon clouds, faces a delicious irony: its quest for affordable housing might just wash away its natural defenses against those very rains. It's a bit like deciding to build a swimming pool in your basement during flood season – practical on paper, but hilariously risky in reality. Yet, this is the crux of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), a Rs 96,000 crore ($11.5 billion) behemoth led by the Adani Group in partnership with the Maharashtra government, aiming to transform Asia's largest slum into a modern hub while repurposing 256 acres of defunct salt pan lands for rental housing. As of early 2026, with construction kicking off on railway land and surveys nearing completion, the project teeters between triumphant urban renewal and ecological folly. This multifaceted saga – blending history, pragmatism, environmental peril, and global lessons – reveals the contradictions of progress in a climate-vulnerable megacity.

The Salty Roots: A Man-Made Legacy Evolving into Nature's Guardian

Mumbai's salt pans aren't some pristine gift from the Arabian Sea; they're a testament to human ingenuity, engineered centuries ago by indigenous communities like the Agri and Koli for salt harvesting. "Salt has a very rich history. From Shivaji Maharaj to the British, everyone had interest in this region because of its salt pans," notes Vinayak Parab, a researcher at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, who has studied these lands for years. Dating back to colonial records, these shallow ponds channeled tidal waters for evaporation, producing salt that fueled empires. By the mid-20th century, however, the Eastern Express Highway sliced through this ecosystem like a blunt knife, blocking seawater inflows and rendering vast swathes defunct since the 1960s. Data from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) shows that of the 5,378 acres of salt pan lands in Mumbai – roughly nine times the size of Dharavi – about 1,672 acres are potentially developable, with 31% already in residential or commercial zones and 480 acres encroached. "The total area of 40 Salt Pan Lands is 5221.34 Acres (as per GIS) and 5377.23 Acres (as per Salt Dept.)," confirms MMRDA's official documentation.

What started as industrial sites has morphed into wetland-like havens, teeming with migratory birds, mangroves, and aquatic life. Environmentalist Stalin D of Vanashakti emphasizes, "Salt pans are not wastelands. They are ecological systems, we have to realise, and they play a crucial role. Since these salt pans are inter-tidal areas, and are situated in low-lying areas, during heavy rains, flood waters get collected here." This evolution fuels the apparent contradiction: man-made origins versus their current role as natural buffers. "You cannot take away the salt pans; they are the inlet and outlet for the seas to balance nature and avoid flooding," warns Stalin Dayanand from Vanashakti. Yet, in a city where over 52 lakh people cram into informal settlements, these "idle industrial lands" tempt planners with visions of skyscrapers.

The Highway to Obsolescence: A Disruptive Legacy

The Eastern Express Highway, built in the mid-20th century, didn't just connect suburbs; it severed the pans' lifeline. "The construction of the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) in the mid-20th century significantly disrupted the salt pans, particularly those in the eastern suburbs like Mulund, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup," historical analyses confirm. By blocking tidal inlets, it turned productive basins into saline wastelands, with no active harvesting since the 1970s. Today, these 5,000+ acres accumulate debris and mangroves, making them unsuitable for farming but ripe for redevelopment – or so proponents argue. Environmentalist Debi Goenka counters, "The wetlands play an important role in securing the city from floods." This disruption exemplifies a real contradiction: infrastructure meant to modernize Mumbai inadvertently amplified its vulnerabilities, setting the stage for today's debates.

The Dharavi Dream: From Slum to Skyline?

Dharavi, home to over a million in 2.5 sq km, generates $1 billion annually from informal industries like leather and pottery. The DRP, valued at up to Rs 3 lakh crore ($36 billion), promises 350 sq ft free units for pre-2000 residents and rentals for others. "Our Dharavi Social Mission is uplifting youth through skilling, healthcare and employment programs," boasts Gautam Adani at the 2025 AGM. By early 2026, construction on 6.5 acres of railway land has begun, with surveys identifying 59,631 eligible households and projections for tens of thousands more. The 256 acres in Mulund-Kanjurmarg-Bhandup will house 56,000 ineligible families, part of a phased rollout to 2032.

Pranav Adani expresses optimism: "We are looking at it with a lot of optimism," highlighting the project's role in Viksit Bharat 2047. CEO SVR Srinivas adds, "This is not a regular slum redevelopment project in Mumbai." Yet, criticism abounds: up to 700,000 post-2000 residents face relocation to sites like toxic Deonar, sparking protests. "Protests have been held, with the Congress party accusing Adani of taking over lucrative land under the guise of redevelopment," reports Vinaya Deshpande Pandit. Urban planner PK Das calls it a "model of anarchy" due to absent planning. The apparent contradiction? A project for dignity risks displacing livelihoods, as Kavas Kapadia warns: "One is dealing with enterprising, talented people, and a highly established web of livelihood."

Pragmatism in a Pressure Cooker: Housing vs. Habitat

In land-starved Mumbai, where prices soar and shortages affect millions, repurposing salt pans seems pragmatic. "Without using salt pan land, Mumbai's redevelopment is impossible," asserts Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Officials like Fadnavis advocate for affordable housing, with the DP 2034 earmarking 321 acres for it. "Salt pans are key to solving housing crisis," urban planners echo, noting the city's need for 10 lakh homes by 2021. Yet, this clashes with ecological realities: "Opening salt pan land for development will increase flooding in Mumbai and will drown the entire suburbs," cautions Stalin D. NatConnect's B N Kumar adds, "It is a gross misconception that salt pans are developable land parcels." The humor? Mumbai's "industrial wastelands" are actually its flood saviors – a salty twist on urban irony.

The Flood Buffer Conundrum: Voices of Warning

Experts agree the pans' buffering role is well-considered. "Salt pans are akin to wetlands as they absorb excess water and act like urban sponges," explains B N Kumar. During the 2005 deluge (944 mm in 24 hours, over 1,000 dead), they mitigated worse outcomes, reducing runoff by 20-30% per GIS models. "Opening salt pan land for development will increase flooding in Mumbai and will drown the entire suburbs," Stalin D reiterates. With climate change amplifying rains (300-500 mm events more frequent), losses could triple to $690-1,890 million for a 1-in-100-year flood by 2080, per IPCC. Debi Goenka warns, "Because of climate change and rising sea levels, any construction on salt pan land would be extremely vulnerable."

Alternatives: Beyond Concrete, Toward Harmony

If buffers are lost, alternatives abound. Nature-based: "Expand or restore adjacent mangroves... which provide similar surge protection," as in Vietnam's barriers reducing damages by 30-50%. Engineered: Check dams, improved drainage (Mumbai's BRIMSTOWAD costs billions but faces siltation). Integrated: "Enforce Coastal Regulation Zones stricter, use Transferable Development Rights," per World Bank frameworks. Urban planner Pankaj Joshi notes, "Opening salt pans for intensive uses like mass slum rehabilitation will have serious environmental implications." Deepti Talpade suggests in-situ redevelopment: "Allowing ‘in situ’ development for existing slum areas."

Singapore's Blueprint: Lessons in Resilience

Singapore's flood solutions offer a stark contrast. "Singapore’s framework is preventive and adaptive, treating water as a resource," with ABC Waters reducing flood-prone areas by 99%. Mumbai's BRIMSTOWAD, costing Rs 2,500 crore ($300 million), is reactive, hampered by encroachments (40% mangrove loss since 1990). "Singapore, another monsoon country, has for the most part solved urban drainage... by installing a proper and functional drainage system," envy Asit K. Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada. Mumbai could adapt: "Mumbai can learn from Singapore’s ABC model to revive salt pans or mangroves," suggests urban expert Deepti Talpade.

Cautious Optimism: A Million Dreams or a Flooded Nightmare?

On balance, cautious optimism prevails. "The Dharavi Redevelopment Project undertaken by the Adani Group reached a significant milestone in 2025," with tangible progress like digital twins for governance. Gautam Adani calls it "our most transformative project," promising dignity for a million. Yet, critics like Aaditya Thackeray decry it as a "land-grab." "The project will be awarded to the qualified bidder," but eligibility woes persist, per SVR Srinivas. Urban planner Kavas Kapadia cautions, "Redeveloping a slum as vast and complex as Dharavi brings immense challenges." Climate adds urgency: "By 2080, due to climate change, the flood magnitude may be double that of the 2005 flood event," warns IPCC. Roxy Mathew Koll adds, "Strengthening infrastructure... can reduce the vulnerability."

In this nuanced tango of progress and peril, Mumbai's salt pans embody the city's soul – resilient, salty, and ever-evolving. Will the DRP herald a slum-free utopia or a flooded folly? Only time, tides, and tenacious planning will tell. But one thing's certain: in the city of dreams, even the ground beneath is up for debate.

Reflection

On balance, as we step into 2026, cautious optimism surrounds the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, tempered by persistent contradictions that define Mumbai's urban narrative. Tangible strides—construction commencing on railway land, master plan approvals, and investments exceeding ₹2,000 crore—signal a break from decades of stalled attempts, offering dignified 350 sq ft homes, skill centers, and economic formalization for Dharavi's vibrant informal ecosystem. Pranav Adani's vision of building "around 2 lakh houses" with multi-modal connectivity underscores potential for a slum-free, resilient hub, aligning with India's growth ambitions.

Yet, real contradictions loom: relocating thousands to salt pan sites risks exacerbating floods, as these low-lying "sponges" have historically mitigated deluges like 2005's catastrophe. Environmentalists warn of heightened vulnerabilities amid intensifying monsoons, while resident protests highlight displacement fears and eligibility disputes. Singapore's success—reducing flood-prone areas by 99% through integrated green-gray infrastructure—offers lessons Mumbai could adapt, blending nature-based buffers with engineered solutions.

Ultimately, success hinges on transparent mitigation, inclusive resettlement, and robust climate safeguards. Without these, short-term housing gains may yield long-term disasters. In this nuanced dance, Mumbai's future rests on balancing human dignity with ecological wisdom—proving that true progress need not drown the city it seeks to elevate.

References

1. Free Press Journal. (2026, January 1). Dharavi Development Project: Salt Pan Lands Emerge As Key To Mumbai’s Urban Future And Housing Rehabilitation.
2. India Today. (2025, December 12). We invest where no one else does: Pranav Adani outlines bold 2026 plan.
3. Hindustan Times. (2025, June 1). Dharavi’s ₹95,790 crore makeover: 5 things to know about the Master Plan.
4. The Indian Express. (2025, April 10). 256-acre salt pan gets Maharashtra nod for Dharavi rehabilitation.
5. PUB Singapore. (2025). About Floods | PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency.
6. The Hindu. (2025, April 10). Maharashtra govt. approves 256 acres of salt pan land for Dharavi redevelopment.
7. Adani.com. (2025). Dharavi - A Human-Centric Transformation.
8. Channel News Asia. (2025, February 4). Singapore to spend S$150 million on drainage projects in 2025.
9. NDTV. (2025). Dharavi Redevelopment Project: Latest News.
10. Economic Times. (2025). Dharavi redevelopment project: Latest News.
11. Down to Earth. (2025). Mumbai Rains 2025: Floods paralyse the financial capital.
12. Question of Cities. (2025, October 31). When high-rises occupy Mumbai’s salt pans, where will the water go?