Salary revision in Water Authority, decision on Wednesday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday will consider the implementation of salary reform in the Water Authority after 8 years, which is running at a loss of Rs 4000 crore. The previous salary revision was on June, 2014.

The 11th Pay Commission has recommended a minimum salary of Rs 23,500 and a maximum of Rs 1.70 lakh in 2019. The reform will result in an additional liability of Rs.10 crore.

The Finance department had opposed the implementation of salary reforms in Water authority which is running at a loss. The Finance Minister returned the file seeking clarification. The Water Authority gave an explanation but the file was left to the Chief Minister's decision.

When the salary revision took place in all other departments, the Water authority was shunned. The Finance Department pointed out the order not to revise salaries in government institutions that do not generate their own income. However, as the ruling and opposition unions protested, the Chief Minister suggested speeding up the reform process.