In a move to ease the financial burden on Delhi residents, the government has introduced a water bill relief scheme. This initiative addresses the issue of high water bills, especially those inflated by late payment surcharges. According to Water Minister Pravesh Verma, the government is taking measures to alleviate this by eliminating these extra charges. The previous system imposed a 5% interest rate on water bills, along with late fees. Now, the government has decided to reduce the late payment surcharge from 5% to 2%.
This decision offers substantial relief to Delhi residents, considering the total outstanding amount is around 87,589 crore rupees, which includes approximately 80,463 thousand crore in late surcharges. Minister Pravesh Singh clarified that this LPSC waiver is a one-time measure during the current government’s term.
Water Minister Pravesh Verma explained that the high bills were mainly due to a 5% monthly compounding interest, and not necessarily due to water consumption. This has been tackled by bringing down the interest rate to 2% and offering a waiver of up to 100% of the surcharge. To illustrate, he pointed out that a 100 rupee bill, which rose to 178 rupees due to the 5% compounding, will now only amount to 130 rupees.
To ensure the scheme’s benefits reach all eligible citizens, the Delhi government will organize dedicated camps in DJB colonies. These camps will provide information about outstanding bills, the waived amounts, and the application process. The scheme will be applicable until March 31, 2026, after which the benefits will cease. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will also regularize illegal water connections.
The fees for domestic connections will be reduced from around ₹26,000 to ₹1,000, while the fees for non-domestic connections will be cut from about ₹61,000 to ₹5,000. The scheme will continue until March 31, 2026. The government has stated that this initiative is designed to bring relief to Delhi citizens and to facilitate the recovery of long-standing dues.