Under the tender conditions, NECL was required to secure all statutory clearances within three months of the work order - i.e., by January 2026 - failing which would attract a penalty of Rs 50,000 per day until work commenced.After more than nine months of delays over regulatory clearances, the BMC has begun trial work to clear legacy waste from the Deonar dumping ground, a key step towards freeing up 124 acres earmarked for rehabilitation housing under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.Three of the five permissions that had held up the Rs 2,537 crore bioremediation project have come through in the past month. The civic body, however, is still awaiting permission from the Bombay High Court and environmental clearance from the Centre before waste can be transported out of the site.The progress comes nearly a month after The Indian Express reported that the project had remained stuck in a maze of clearances for over nine months, despite the BMC awarding the contract and extending the contractor’s deadline twice. To start the bioremediation work – an environment friendly process to reclaim a land parcel from years of legacy waste – the BMC and NECL required seven different permissions from multiple government agencies.“Trial work has begun at the site from the start of this month. Machinery has been deployed and waste is being segregated and stacked. We can move the waste out only after the court clearance comes through,” a civic official said.The 124-acre Deonar parcel was earmarked by the state housing department in October 2024 for rehabilitation housing under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group. The project is being executed by Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd, a special purpose vehicle in which Adani Properties Pvt Ltd holds an 80 per cent stake and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority holds the remaining 20 per cent.To clear the land, the BMC floated a tender for bioremediation, the process of clearing and reclaiming land occupied by legacy waste, in May 2025. The Rs 2,368 crore tender was awarded to Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd for Rs 2,537 crore in October 2025.The BMC has now received no-objection certificates from the state mangrove cell and Maharashtra Wildlife Board, both issued on August 13, followed by a Consent to Operate from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board on August 21.Story continues below this adThe mangrove clearance was particularly important as a significant portion of the landfill lies within 50 metres of mangroves along the Thane Creek, a habitat for flamingos. The BMC had applied for the mangrove and wildlife clearances on April 21.The civic body has since approached the Bombay High Court for permission and is awaiting its order. It also needs clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Officials expect both permissions by October.Under the tender conditions, NECL was required to secure statutory clearances within three months of the work order. Failure to do so attracted a penalty of Rs 50,000 per day until work commenced.The Deonar landfill, spread over 211 acres, has been receiving waste since 1927 and contains an estimated 1.85 crore metric tonnes of legacy waste, piled nearly 40 metres high. Of the 124 acres earmarked for Dharavi rehabilitation housing, 62 acres fall within an eco sensitive zone.Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Dharavi Redevelopment ProjectMumbai