The persistent problem of the dumping grounds in Ulhasnagar and Ambernath has emerged as a major concern for local residents as the assembly elections approach. Citizens have voiced their frustrations over the issue, urging candidates to prioritize the resolution of the dumping ground problems in their manifestos.

The Ambernath assembly constituency is home to two separate dumping grounds serving both Ambernath and Ulhasnagar. These grounds have been causing immense hardship for years, with residents enduring poor living conditions due to the continuous dumping of waste. Despite several announcements by the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, Ambernath Municipal Council, and the state government, the issue remains unresolved, leading to growing discontent among the population.

Both Dr. Balaji Kinikar, the Shiv Sena candidate from Mahayuti, and Rajesh Wankhede of Maha Vikas Aghadi have included the dumping ground issue in their election manifestos. However, Dr. Kinikar, who has served as the MLA for this constituency for the past 15 years, has faced criticism for his failure to address the problem. In contrast, Wankhede’s rally saw an unprecedented response from Ambernath West residents, who expressed their frustration with the lack of action from their current representative.

During his campaign, Rajesh Wankhede visited Suryodaya Nagar and surrounding areas near the dumping ground, where he was warmly welcomed by residents. Many citizens expressed their gratitude for Wankhede’s personal visit, saying, “No candidate has come to meet us during previous elections, but you have come to hear our issues. We hope you will work towards solving our problems.”

Wankhede, speaking to the media, emphasized the long-standing demand of citizens for the removal of the dumping ground, which has been largely ignored. He criticized Dr. Balaji Kinikar for failing to address not only the dumping ground issue but also other basic civic problems in the constituency.

Rohit Salve, a Congress leader and Maha Vikas Aghadi coordinator, pointed out that both Ulhasnagar and Ambernath face similar challenges with their dumping grounds. He added that the municipal corporations and state government have failed to resolve the issue. Salve assured that if the grand alliance forms the government, solving the dumping ground problem will be a top priority.

In response, Dr. Kinikar stated that a solid waste management project will soon be implemented by the state government, covering Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, and Badlapur, and he assured the public that the issue would be resolved in the near future.