Marshals of HYDRAA today boycotted their duties in protest against a salary cut, bringing emergency services in Hyderabad to a standstill.
With the boycott, 51 HYDRAA vehicles stopped functioning, disrupting services in all 150 divisions of the city.
The marshals said that as per orders from their Director General they should be paid Rs 45,000 per month, but were being given a much lower salary.
"We received a GO from HYDRAA stating that the pay scale is Rs 22,500. Until recently we were receiving Rs 29,000. We met HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath to discuss the issue," they said.
Many marshals are retired army personnel who also receive pensions. "Our pension is given in recognition of the service we have rendered to the country, yet some speak about it as they please. Even labourers' wages are being increased, but our salary has been cut. We should be given proper respect. We are not given even a weekly off during the monsoon emergency, and yet we are not being treated with dignity," they added.
The marshals said that they would resume duties only if their salaries were revised.