Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9: Employees of the development authority have opposed the state government's decision to shift its planning wing to the corporation and threatened to intensify their opposition.

At a meeting, the employees of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority under the banner of the BDA Karmachari United Forum, stated that the process followed by the government to transfer the planning wing to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation was unfair and it would affect the employees adversely.

An employee said that according to the housing and urban development department's decision, the town planning wing would be shifted under the civic body's control. Besides, the employees working in these wings would also be transferred to the corporation.

'There is no provision in the Orissa Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982, for transfer of any of its wings or employees to any civic body. The Odisha Municipal Corporation Act has neither any provisions to this effect. So, the decision is illegal,' said forum president Sameer Mohanty.

Co-convener of the forum Biswajit Mohanty said: 'Though the government has cited constitutional amendment to justify shifting of such facilities to local civic bodies, it is yet to be approved.'

Moreover, the employees said the transfer would affect their salary, emoluments and other service benefits.The government has decided that the salary of the employees will be borne by both the corporation and the development authority for the next five years till the civic body took full control.

'This will affect us badly as the corporation is not financially self-sufficient,' said Sabitrirani Mohapatra, general secretary of the BDA Karmachari Samanwaya Sangrami Sangha.

Besides, the employees also accused the senior officials of both the development authority and the department of trying to privatise many services. They also opposed the appointment of a new advisor to the development body.

'On December 2, the authorities had assured us that except the planning cell nothing else would be shifted, but the department letter presents a different picture,' said Naba Kishore Mohanty, president of the BDA Workers' Association.

Public relation officer Madhumita Rath said the employees did not discuss with the authorities the steps they were planning to take.

'We were aware of their objections and held a meeting with them on December 2. At the meeting they were assured that parks and other services would not be shifted from under the development authority. The employees are reacting after they got to know about the decision taken at the department's meeting on November 28. The authorities are ready to discuss the issue with them,' Rath.