HYDERABAD: Employees of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) here on Monday suspended water supply from the main 30MGD filtration plant in protest against non-payment of their salaries.

But later they suspended the strike for a fortnight following an assurance by Wasa’s newly-appoin­ted managing director Ghulam Mohammad Kaimkhani.

The protest was observed on the call of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) Mazdoor Union. Wasa workers gathered at the filtration plant on Sunday night and closed water supply on Monday morning, prompting MD Kaim­khani to rush to the filtration plant and talk to them.

The workers said they were raising the just demand for payment of their six months’ salaries and pension to regular and retired employees.

Union leaders Insaf Lashari and Sajid Taqi said that several posts had been lying vacant after the death and retirement of employees since 1997, but neither the posts were filled nor were employees’ services regularised, they told the MD.

The union leaders claimed that work charge employees were being paid remuneration of Rs6,000 per month which was a great injustice, to which the MD agreed that their payment should be increased to Rs16,000 per month at least.

Mr Kaimkhani said that a summary had been moved to the Sindh government for payment of Rs300m that were in fact receivables from various government departments, adding that if this amount was received, Wasa would be able to clear six months’ salaries of workers along with their pension-related dues.

He said that an objection had been raised over the summary which was being addressed. The objection pertained to reconciliation of dues with relevant departments and installation of meters against them, he said.

He informed workers that government departments simply did not pay outstanding dues despite issuance of bills. He sought 15 days’ time to try his level best to get the summary approved.

The union leaders promised to suspend strike for 15 days following MD’s assurance. According to Sajid Taqi, workers were optimistic that the MD would ensure that the dues were paid and other related issues of workers were resolved.

Mr Kaimkhani told Dawn over phone that Wasa was trying to improve its revenue recoveries under water charges, adding that he had taken over charge only eight days ago when Wasa was under dire financial straits.

He said the operational cost of Wasa’s system had increased manifold given lack of investment in the system.

He pointed out that Rs650 per household were to be recovered under water and sewerage charges for the upkeep of system, but Wasa got Rs200 as the government had not allowed such increase in public interest.

He also said that new installations had been established, adding that dues under salaries and pension stood at Rs350m which needed to be cleared. “Wasa also needs to regularise services and fill vacant posts of employees that were long overdue as well,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019