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By:

Dr. Abhilash Dawre

19 March 2025 at 5:18:41 pm

BJP alleges billing irregularities

Ambernath: Serious allegations of financial irregularities have surfaced in Ambernath's solid waste management system, with BJP corporators accusing Samiksha Waste Management Infra Pvt. Ltd. of artificially inflating garbage collection weights to generate excess payments. The corporators have demanded an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities and sought the immediate blacklisting of the company. They have also alleged that the entire operation has continued with the...

BJP alleges billing irregularities

Ambernath: Serious allegations of financial irregularities have surfaced in Ambernath's solid waste management system, with BJP corporators accusing Samiksha Waste Management Infra Pvt. Ltd. of artificially inflating garbage collection weights to generate excess payments. The corporators have demanded an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities and sought the immediate blacklisting of the company. They have also alleged that the entire operation has continued with the knowledge of municipal officials. According to the BJP corporators, a field inspection of garbage transportation and weighing procedures revealed that garbage vehicles were allegedly loaded with drain sludge, mud and heavy soil, in addition to waste, before being weighed at a private weighbridge. They claimed this practice artificially increased the recorded weight of each vehicle, resulting in inflated monthly bills. The corporators stated that the waste collection contract has remained with Samiksha Waste Management Infra Pvt. Ltd. since 2017, with extensions granted over the years, including a fresh contract in 2023. Despite the company handling the work for nearly eight years, they alleged that nearly 210 garbage bins continue to remain across the city, raising questions over the effectiveness of the waste management system. A major concern raised by the corporators relates to the absence of a municipality-owned weighbridge. They claimed that the tender conditions require the municipal council to have its own weighing facility and that 15 lakh was sanctioned during the 2026 General Body meeting for installing the weighbridge. However, despite the approval, the municipal weighbridge has not been made operational. As a result, garbage is allegedly weighed on a private weighbridge, where approximately half a tonne of additional weight per vehicle is allegedly recorded, leading to inflated billing. Garbage Quantity The corporators further questioned the official claim that 170 metric tonnes of garbage are collected daily in Ambernath. They pointed out that neighbouring Badlapur, which has a larger population and geographical area, reportedly generates only around 100 metric tonnes of waste daily. They argued that the significantly higher figure reported for Ambernath, despite the continued presence of garbage heaps and around 210 garbage bins across the city, raises serious doubts over the accuracy of the reported data. They also alleged violations of tender conditions by claiming that vehicles other than those approved under the contract were being used for waste transportation. In addition, they accused the company of failing to provide contractual sanitation workers with timely salaries, gumboots, hand gloves, raincoats and other essential safety equipment. Questions were also raised regarding the fitness certificates and insurance documents of certain garbage transportation vehicles, with corporators alleging that the concerned authorities failed to take appropriate action. In another serious allegation, BJP corporators claimed that the alleged irregularities were continuing under the protection of Ambarnath Municipal Council Health Department Head Mahesh Tayde. They alleged that municipal officials were aware of the financial irregularities, violations in the weighing process and breaches of tender conditions but deliberately ignored them. They demanded strict administrative and legal action against those found responsible. Increased Weight ‘The Perfect Voice’ visited the private weighbridge where garbage vehicles are weighed. According to the report, an employee identified as Shivam Singh allegedly stated, "Officials from the Ambarnath Municipal Council ask us to show increased weight. Accordingly, we increase the weight and issue the receipt." The ground report also highlighted allegations that sanitation workers were not being provided with mandatory safety kits and were not receiving salaries on time. Concerns were also raised regarding the absence of valid fitness certificates for some garbage transport vehicles. While speaking to, ‘The Perfect Voice’, BJP Group leader Abhijeet Karanjule-Patil alleged that large-scale financial irregularities were taking place through the waste collection contract executed by Samiksha Waste Management Infra Pvt. Ltd. He demanded the immediate blacklisting of the company and an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities. He alleged that although a municipal weighbridge is mandatory under the tender conditions, it has not been made operational, forcing garbage to be weighed at a private weighbridge where vehicle weights are allegedly inflated by loading drain sludge, mud and soil. He also questioned the official claim of collecting 170 metric tonnes of waste daily, stating that despite these figures, nearly 210 garbage bins and garbage heaps continue to exist across the city. Karanjule-Patil further alleged collusion between municipal officials and the contractor, while also raising concerns over delayed wages, lack of safety equipment for sanitation workers, and compliance issues relating to garbage transport vehicles.

Annasaheb Patil: A Lifelong Advocate for Workers’ Rights

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Annasaheb Patil

Annasaheb Pandurang Patil, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, made significant contributions to the uplifting of scattered workers in Mumbai. For this reason, he is regarded as the architect of the progress of the Maratha and Mathadi workers in Maharashtra. Annasaheb Patil proposed a simple yet broad definition of a `Maratha,’ stating that every person residing in Maharashtra and standing for its defence is a Maratha. With this ideology, he established the Mathadi Workers Union and the All India Maratha Federation.

When Annasaheb Patil arrived in Mumbai from his native village, Mandrulkole in Patan Taluka, he began his career as a worker. At that time, workers in Mumbai were facing dire conditions, and a majority of them were Marathas. Annasaheb Patil believed that workers needed to experience both economic and social progress. He deeply studied their issues and began organising them, forming the Mathadi Workers Union, formally known as the Maharashtra State Mathadi Transport and General Workers Union. This became one of the largest labour unions in the state.

At the time, most labour unions were led by communists, but Annasaheb Patil rejected their ideologies, instead building a union based on Indigenous principles. He organised protests and movements, putting forward workers’ demands for better wages, healthcare, and basic rights for workers before the government. His relentless work eventually bore fruit, and he became the guiding force for workers.

Annasaheb Patil’s efforts resonated with the government. The then-Chief Minister, Yashwantrao Chavan, addressed the demands put forth by Patil, and on June 5, 1969, the Mathadi Workers Act was enacted in Maharashtra. This legislation brought joy and relief to the workers, improving their quality of life. Due to this act, facilities such as hospitals, consumer societies, housing through CIDCO, and educational and medical services were made available to Mathadi workers. Patil’s contribution to their welfare was pivotal.

Today, the issue of Maratha reservation is a significant topic in Maharashtra. Annasaheb Patil, the father of the Maratha reservation movement, made sure that his demands were reasonable and did not disturb social unity. His image is revered across Maharashtra for this reason.

Annasaheb Patil worked tirelessly for the welfare of Mathadi workers, most of whom were Marathas. He united the 12 Balutedars and 18 Pagadi communities, forming various organisations under the All India Maratha Federation. His leadership earned him widespread respect, and on July 8, 1980, he became a member of the Legislative Council.

During this time, the demand for Maratha reservations based on economic criteria was gaining traction. Annasaheb Patil toured Maharashtra while advocating for this cause. He resolved to lead a protest march to the Legislative Assembly. As an MLA in the Congress government, Patil, along with Advocate Shashikant Pawar, led a massive procession from Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on March 22, 1982. The sight of the marchers carrying Shivaji Maharaj’s saffron flag caught the attention of the citizens of Mumbai.

Annasaheb Patil submitted a list of nine demands to the then Chief Minister, Babasaheb Bhosale. Realising that the demand for reservation would not be considered, he declared that if justice were not served to the Maratha community, he would not live to see the next sunrise. True to his word, he ended his life on March 23, 1982, leaving an indelible mark on the state.

Annasaheb Patil devoted his life to the progress of Mathadi workers, raising their issues before the government and improving their living conditions. His efforts for the Maratha reservation and social justice brought attention to the problems faced by the community. His life was a testament to the struggle for the welfare of society. Rightfully, he is remembered as the father of the Maratha reservation movement and the architect of Maratha upliftment.

On his birth anniversary, we humbly pay tribute to the sacred memory of Annasaheb Patil.

(The writer is a BJP member of Maharashtra Legislative Council. Views personal.)

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