http://www.vishvish.com/story/welcome-to-dharavi <p>There might be a million people living here, a marvel of architecture and infrastructure. Prince Charles has strong words of praise for it, although he would not be impressed with either the plumbing, or the plans held for the area by the politicians. There have been many rumours of replacing swathes of Dharavi with properly-built apartments and housing, indeed there are already some of these buildings here, but unappealing, uninhabited and vandalized.</p> <p>Suggestions that only the surface area of housing will be replaced, like for like, is not going down well, since it means only those families who live on the ground floor will be offered housing. In a place where ingenious stacked housing is the norm, where does that leave most of the population?</p> Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 en-gb vishvish.com RSS generator 2.0 http://www.vishvish.com/photo/001-of-dharavi-1 < 0.01% of Dharavi Corrugated roofs allow future storeys. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/suresh-the-shopkeeper-2 Suresh the Shopkeeper Suresh sells snacks, vegetables, groceries and other "essentials." Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/light-industry-3 Light Industry A typical Indian sign, found deep in the camp, clues to hidden but comprehensive economic activities... Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/lane-4 Lane Scarcely wide enough to ride a bicycle down, yet lanes of this size are the routes in and out of the camp to the main roads. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/clean-water-5 Clean water The area is too built-up to allow retro-fitting of utilities. Pipes are simply laid along the paths. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/kitchen-6 Kitchen Basic but perfectly functional. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/enthusiasm-7 Enthusiasm Happy, groomed, tidy, perfectly turned-out, unlike the kids often encountered in London. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/watching-the-planes-8 Watching the planes Groups of men in the Muslim, airport-side of Dharavi watch the planes come and go. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/airport-side-9 Airport side Children scavenge on one side, while a Jet Airlines flight taxis for take-off on the other side. Yes, it is very loud here. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/airport-side-10 Airport side A reverse angle to the previous picture, looking back at the same spot from the tarmac at Mumbai airport. Vish Vishvanath