No proposal to remove meter readers: HMWS&SB

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The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has clarified that no meter reader currently working with the board will be removed and that there is no such proposal.

HMWS&SB managing director K. Ashok Reddy said a special meeting would be held on Tuesday to deliberate on the concerns raised by meter readers and that the decisions taken would be disclosed.

The clarification comes amid a fresh demand by meter readers for regularisation, following the deaths of three outsourcing employees. The board said it had sent relevant proposals to the government in this regard.

Following a representation by the Telangana Outsourcing Employees JAC in November 2025, the board had written to the Finance Department seeking clarification on whether meter readers could be included in the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS) portal.

The specific clarification sought was whether meter readers could be brought under IFMIS, as the work carried out by billing and collection agencies was classified as “activity outsourcing” rather than outsourcing.

According to an April 2026 letter from HMWS&SB to the MA&UD (Engineering) department, the proposed strength of meter readers was 782, against the current working strength of 677. The meter readers are engaged through manpower agencies selected through open tenders. The agencies are paid ₹15,600 a month per meter reader for meter reading or disconnection work, excluding statutory social security benefits.

In February this year, the board made another request to the MA&UD department seeking clarification on whether meter readers could be included in the IFMIS portal.

On the issue of pending salaries of outsourcing employees, the board said delays were due to the process of scrutinising and clearing bills following late submission of attendance details by the agencies. It said payments were being released based on eligibility.

Following the JAC’s appeal, the board also said the tender process for engaging manpower agencies had been stopped, pending clarification from the government.

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