Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Engineers Union (BMEU) has welcomed the BMC’s decision to introduce a comprehensive policy for transfers of engineers, while urging civic commissioner to consider employees’ place of residence and ensure that essential staff are retained at project sites and in critical service departments.In a letter to the civic chief dated Sept 7 and which is signed by BMEU chairperson Yashwant Dhuri and secretary-general Sanjay Sawant, the union said the new transfer policy would bring greater transparency and help address concerns over alleged irregularities in the transfer of engineers. The letter follows the municipal engineer’s circular dated Sept 2 on transfers.The union said most BMC engineers do not own homes in Mumbai and commute from areas ranging from Panvel and Karjat to Kasara, Virar and Palghar. It requested that, wherever possible, engineers be posted to departments on the same side of the railway line as their residence, saying this would reduce travel time and help them report to work on time.The BMEU also sought a sympathetic approach towards engineers with disabilities and requested that transfers not be carried out during the monsoon.A key demand is to retain the required 10% core staff at municipal project sites and in essential service departments. The union said such staff are necessary for the smooth execution of ongoing projects and uninterrupted delivery of essential services.The union also suggested that department-wise staff accommodation be provided to engineers working in essential services. It said this would reduce commuting time and improve efficiency.The BMEU further pointed out that the civic body has several residential plots in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region that remain unsold and suggested examining whether residential buildings could be constructed on these plots and allotted to engineers on payment of rent.The union said the transfer policy would give engineers an opportunity to gain experience by working in different departments during their careers. It expressed hope that the policy could be refined periodically to eliminate irregularities in transfers.
