Gurugram, Nov. 5 -- Waste processing at the Bandhwari landfill, located along the Gurugram-Faridabad Road has remained stalled for over a year, leading to a massive pile of garbage exceeding 3.04 million tonnes. After months of inaction, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has decided to open tenders on November 7 for a new agency to undertake large-scale biomining and disposal of legacy waste. Officials said the tender process would focus on scientific waste processing and stricter monitoring. However, environmentalists and residents are sceptical. According to MCG data, around 3.04 million tonnes of waste had accumulated at Bandhwari by early 2023. Of this, nearly 0.66 million tonnes were reportedly processed between January and December 2023. However, the work came to a standstill following the termination of contracts with two private concessionaires citing slow progress and repeated violations. Since then, not a single tonne of garbage has been processed, while the landfill continues to expand by nearly 1,800 tonnes of fresh waste daily-1,200 tonnes from Gurugram and 600-700 tonnes from Faridabad. "The earlier contractors abandoned work midway. Since January this year, no waste has been processed. The pile keeps growing, and it has become a serious concern for both cities," said Vaishali Rana,a local environmentalist. Spread over 30 acres, the landfill was originally set up to handle waste from Gurugram but it has been receiving garbage from Faridabad since 2012. Over time, it has become one of the largest and most hazardous dumping sites in Haryana. The toxic smoke, leachate, and recurring fires have caused distress among nearby residents of Bandhwari, Gwal Pahari, and Mangar villages. Several studies by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) have confirmed groundwater contamination and high levels of methane emissions in the area. Officials admit that a year-long gap in waste processing has undone much of the earlier progress. "The new tender opening is critical. We are determined to restart biomining work at full scale and ensure strict performance timelines. The plan is to clear the waste by March 2027," said Sandeep Sihag, executive engineer, MCG. Officials say that if the work begins by 2026, the process could take over two years....