After public pressure, cleanliness crusader gets KDMC job back

KALYAN: In a rare move, following sustained public pressure and political intervention, the state govt has reappointed Ramdas Kokare as deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. The move comes days after Kokare's sudden transfer triggered outrage among residents and civic activists.

Kokare, known across Maharashtra for his innovative waste management and cleanliness models, had been abruptly transferred last month after serving barely nine months at the KDMC. However, his next posting was not finalised.

The move sparked a strong public reaction, with residents launching campaigns demanding his return, citing his role in significantly improving solid waste management and cleanliness standards in the twin city. Sources said KDMC commissioner Abhinav Goel had also urged the state govt to bring Kokare back, considering his work and public support. It is learnt that Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde also played an important role in pushing for his reinstatement, making the govt revoke the transfer on Monday.

Kokare was first brought to KDMC in 2020 with a mandate to overhaul the civic body's poor sanitation and waste management system, which was long criticised for rampant garbage dumping and lack of segregation.

During his first tenure, he played a key role in shutting the Adharwadi dumping ground and aggressively promoting waste segregation across the city. However, after his transfer at the end of that tenure, waste management conditions reportedly deteriorated again. Sources said this was one of the key reasons why MP Shrikant Shinde had earlier demanded Kokare's return to KDMC for a second stint.

After rejoining KDMC, Kokare once again focused on waste segregation and scientific waste processing. Under his leadership, segregation levels, which had reportedly dropped to just 3%, rose to nearly 70%, among the highest in the MMR. He also pushed biomining initiatives at the Adharwadi dumping ground and encouraged recycling and revenue generation through waste processing projects.