An inspection at the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s Umbarde waste processing plant turned contentious on Monday after supporters of BJP MLA Sulabha Gaikwad allegedly assaulted a supervisor, while officials and political functionaries raised questions about machinery, worker safety and the contractor’s performance.
The incident reportedly took place during a visit by Gaikwad and KDMC deputy commissioner Ramdas Kokare. The MLA and BJP functionaries alleged that the facility was not delivering the work expected under a contract worth crores of rupees. They pointed to machinery that was reportedly not operational, workers without identity cards and a lack of necessary safety equipment.
The allegation that supporters assaulted the supervisor followed accusations that he was under the influence of alcohol. That claim has not been independently established in the report. Any action relating to the alleged assault or the supervisor’s conduct would require due process and verification of the claims.
The inspection also raised concerns about the presence of children who were allegedly involved in waste picking at the facility. Questions were further raised over whether vehicles operating at the dumping ground had the required documents. These issues place attention on the operational and safety controls that govern municipal waste facilities, including worker identification, equipment maintenance and vehicle compliance.
Gaikwad demanded an immediate inquiry and appropriate action against the contractor. She said the contractor should be replaced if an investigation found that the required work was not being carried out properly. The demand came amid allegations that the plant’s machinery was not functioning and that basic safety arrangements were inadequate.
Kokare disputed part of the claim about the machinery. He said the equipment was operational, although some machines had developed technical problems and efforts were underway to repair them. He also said the absence of identity cards would be investigated and that the contractor would be instructed to make identity cards compulsory for all workers.
The Umbarde facility processes wet waste into compost, separates reusable material from dry waste and sends the remaining waste to cement factories. Its functioning therefore affects multiple stages of KDMC’s waste-handling chain, from sorting and processing to the onward movement of residual material.
The episode places both the plant’s operating conditions and the conduct of the inspection under scrutiny. The reported allegations about the contractor, machinery, workers, vehicles and waste picking remain matters for inquiry, while the alleged assault requires separate examination by the appropriate authorities. KDMC’s next steps are expected to include an investigation into worker identification and instructions to the contractor on mandatory identity cards, alongside efforts to repair the machines reported to have developed technical problems.
