India, May 5 -- The abrupt transfer of Ramdas Kokare, Deputy Commissioner of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), has sparked strong reactions among residents, with many crediting him for significantly improving solid waste management in the area and demanding revocation of his transfer.

The order regarding Kokare's transfer was issued by the state urban development department on April 29. His next posting has not yet been decided.

Kokare was brought into the KDMC in 2020 as head of the waste management department, with a clear mandate to transform the civic body's image, long associated with poor sanitation, widespread garbage dumping, and a waste management system that existed largely on paper. During his tenure as the de...