The Shiv Sena, under the leadership of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, has expressed its opposition to the Chennai model implemented by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), alleging that it imposes unjust financial burdens on the public.
A press conference was conducted by Dipesh Pundalik Mhatre, Chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), Kalyan District, to voice his objections to the "Chennai model" of waste collection. During the event, he raised serious allegations of mismanagement within the Municipal Corporation.
Mhatre told the media that a 50% hike in property tax is being imposed on citizens. Previously, the annual tax amounted to approximately ₹600, but it is now being increased to ₹900. He criticised the Corporation, stating this amounts to an unjust extraction from the people.
He warned that Shiv Sena (UBT) would take to the streets if the KDMC proceeded with the proposed property tax hike.
At the press conference, Mhatre revealed that around 850 tonnes of waste are generated daily in the twin city, while the capacity of the Umbarde-Barve processing plant in Dombivli is only about 650 tonnes. He alleged that over 10,000 metric tonnes of waste have accumulated near Durgadi Fort in Kalyan. According to him, under the new project, waste will be collected but not scientifically processed.
Mhatre also slammed KDMC for several other civic issues. He said the condition of roads and drainage is "pathetic," with choked sewers and no contractors appointed to address the situation, especially concerning with the monsoon approaching.
Last week, KDMC awarded a private agency a 10-year contract for garbage collection across seven wards, following a strategy inspired by the nationally recognized ‘Chennai model’ of urban sanitation. The initiative was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. KDMC announced that payments to the agency would depend on service quality and other predefined criteria, with an expected annual expenditure of approximately ₹85 crore.
Mhatre alleged that the total project cost over 10 years will amount to ₹1,000 crore, questioning why the contract was not limited to five years, as per established norms.
