In a major announcement that brings relief to lakhs of Delhi residents grappling with inflated water bills, Delhi’s PWD Minister Parvesh Verma on Monday declared that the government will soon introduce a Water Bill Waiver Scheme under which up to 90% of outstanding domestic water bills may be waived.
The announcement was made during a press briefing marking the completion of 100 days of the Rekha Gupta-led government, where Verma highlighted the government’s key achievements and future commitments.
Only 10% Payable If Bill Is Inflated
No timeline announced yet; Jal Board to implement control measures
According to Verma, if a household has received a water bill higher than actual consumption, the resident will only have to pay 10% of the billed amount, and the rest would be completely waived. While the timeline for the rollout was not specified, Verma added that a new integrated control system is being developed within the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to regulate and distribute water more efficiently based on population density.
AAP Had Also Promised Waiver; BJP Now Acts
Previous government acknowledged errors, BJP-led administration to resolve them
Water billing issues have been a long-standing grievance in the capital, with several households receiving inflated bills running into lakhs. Even former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal acknowledged the billing discrepancies and had promised waivers during his tenure. Now, the BJP government appears to be moving ahead with its resolution.
Anti-Encroachment, Drain Desilting, and Streetlight Upgrades Also Highlighted
Verma outlines accomplishments across departments under unified governance
Verma also shared updates from other departments under his ministry:
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15 lakh tonnes of silt have been removed from major drains in Delhi to ensure smoother water flow during monsoons.
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156 new posts have been approved to accelerate work on desilting and anti-encroachment.
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A new tender system for the upkeep of roads and drains has been initiated.
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100 km of roads have been resurfaced, and 90% of dark spots across the city have been repaired.
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2,500 new streetlights have been installed to enhance public safety.
