‘Set an example’: Employees asked to switch off ACs after 5 PM; here's why Hyderabad water board offices have new rules

Employees in Hyderabad water board offices have been instructed to turn off their air conditioners after 5 PM as part of an effort to cut water and electricity consumption by at least 20% compared to previous usage. Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Managing Director K. Ashok Reddy issued the directive, stating that conservation must start within the organization before officials ask citizens to save water.

Reddy emphasized that setting an example and practicing conservation themselves is crucial before asking others to do the same. The ACs in the offices must be set at 25°C and must be switched off after 5 PM, with exceptions only for essential maintenance work. Offices are also required to collect the water discharged by the ACs instead of letting it go to waste, which can be reused for activities like gardening and cleaning.

The board aims to prevent unnecessary power use and to repair leaks in buildings, toilets, pipelines, taps, and storage tanks immediately. Officials must monitor these areas closely to prevent wastage. The electricity conservation instructions extend beyond ACs to include lights, fans, computers, and other equipment. Every employee should treat electricity conservation as a personal responsibility, and offices must regularly review their water and electricity consumption, comparing current figures with earlier usage to work towards the minimum 20% reduction.

Reddy warned that negligence in preventing wastage would not be tolerated and emphasized that conservation should be a daily practice rather than just a publicity exercise. Offices that successfully implement the measures and meet the savings target will be recognized, and officers and employees performing well will receive appreciation certificates every month.