Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a relief scheme that will waive water bill arrears for 7 lakh domestic consumers out of a total of 11.7 lakh consumers. The scheme aims to settle outstanding dues of ₹5,737 crore owed to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Of the eligible consumers, 7 lakh households will have their water bill arrears completely waived. The remaining 4.7 lakh consumers will see reduced arrears once the scheme comes into effect from August 1.
Under the scheme, the government analyzed the water bills of the households and determined that over 7 lakh households fell within the 20 kilolitres per month limit, which is already exempted from charges. These households will enjoy zero water bills. The remaining consumers will benefit from reduced arrears once the scheme is implemented. The AAP government had previously made 20 kilolitres of water per month free for all households with functional water meters since January 1, 2014.
The accumulation of water bills was attributed to various factors, including difficulties in meter reading during the pandemic and cases of incorrect readings filed by meter readers. The Chief Minister acknowledged the patience of Delhi residents, who have been waiting for this scheme for several months. The DJB board has approved the decision, which now awaits clearance from the Delhi Cabinet.
Under the new plan, revised bills will be generated from August 1, giving consumers a three-month period to settle their dues. Failure to pay within this timeframe will result in reverting to the original bill amounts, without the benefits of the one-time settlement scheme. This initiative provides relief to a significant number of consumers burdened by water bill arrears, alleviating their financial strain.
