Sanitation workers block sewage flow in protest

HYDERABAD:

The Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWSC) staff temporarily shut down a major sewerage pumping station in protest against the non-payment of their salaries and pensions. The employees, who have not been paid for the past year, halted operations at the Tulsi Das Disposal Pumping Station for four hours.

The closure of the station led to sewage water accumulating on several major roads, including Gari Khata, Naya Pul Chowk, Qazi Qayyum Road, and Station Road, affecting traffic flow and causing inconvenience to residents. During the protest, the employees staged a sit-in at the pumping station and shouted slogans.

Employees Union leaders, including Chairman Ejaz Hussain, General Secretary Abdul Qayyum Bhatti, and President Athar Khan Chang, addressed the protest and highlighted the financial struggles faced by HWSC staff. They said that employees have been deprived of their salaries due to the failure of both the corporation’s administration and the Sindh government to fulfill their financial obligations.

The union leaders said that the provincial government has not released Rs80 million per month for water and sewerage services, while the corporation continues to collect Rs70 million in local revenue each month. Despite this, the administration has failed to pay employees’ salaries, pensions, and other dues, prompting the workers to resort to extreme measures.

The union leaders warned that if their demands for immediate payment are not met, they will intensify their protest, bringing the entire water supply and sewerage system in the city to a standstill.