State decides to shift some offices to N-K

The State Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for shifting some key government offices from Bengaluru to North Karnataka.

riefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the central office of Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam would be shifted from Bengaluru to Almatti.

Similarly, the central office of the Karnataka Niravari Nigam, Sugar Directorate and Cane Development Commissionerate will be shifted to North Karnataka.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had announced shifting of some government offices, to pacify agitators seeking statehood for North Karnataka. A committee headed by the chief secretary was constituted to make recommendations.

Byre Gowda said a cabinet sub-committee would be constituted soon to decide on the location in North Karnataka where the offices would be shifted.

The offices of a member of the Karnataka Human Rights Commission and that of two Information Commissioners will be shifted to the region.

The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board would have a separate unit for North Karnataka, he added.

Replying to a query, the minister said the government would seek the Supreme Court’s consent to implement the provisions of the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the basis of Reservation (to the posts in the civil services of the state) Act, 2017.

The legislature had passed the Act to circumvent a Supreme Court order striking down reservation in promotion for SC/STs. The state’s appeal will come up for hearing in the Apex Court on September 12.