With nearly 40 percent of posts lying vacant in urban local bodies across Karnataka, the Urban Development Department has issued transfer and posting orders for 27 assistant executive engineers from civil and environmental cadres.
Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening civic administration in districts facing staff shortages.
Bengaluru engineers resist transfers
Sources said some engineers currently working in Greater Bengaluru Authority and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd are resisting the transfers and seeking to remain in Bengaluru postings.
The department reportedly cited operational needs and urgent vacancy filling in other cities and towns.
NGT norms cited
The order reportedly refers to National Green Tribunal guidelines that require municipalities to promptly fill vacant environmental engineering posts.
Officials said the shortage of technical staff has affected sanitation, waste management, cleanliness drives and environmental compliance work.
Engineers posted across state
Among those transferred are officials posted to districts including Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Tumakuru, Yadgir and Udupi.
The redistribution is expected to improve civic project execution outside Bengaluru.
Political pressure alleged
Former N R Ramesh alleged that some officials were lobbying to retain Bengaluru postings using recommendation letters from ministers and MLAs.
He also claimed the transfer process was being misused to pressure engineers who wished to stay back.
Need for stronger civic staffing
The development has highlighted a wider challenge facing Karnataka’s urban governance system, where growing towns require more technical manpower for roads, drainage, waste management and public health infrastructure.Karnataka Urban Development Department transferred 27 engineers after reporting 40 percent vacancies in urban local bodies statewide.#Karnataka #Bengaluru #UrbanDevelopment #GovernmentJobs #CivicNews #newskarnataka