More than 16 lakh water consumers in Delhi may soon get a big relief from inflated water bills. The Delhi government is working on a bill waiver scheme, which could potentially reduce pending bills by up to 90%.

According to official sources, during the COVID-19 pandemic, water meters were not read accurately, and estimated bills were issued. This led to abnormally high charges for many consumers. Over 10,000 complaints were registered in just October-November 2022, with several bills even exceeding ₹1 lakh. Many residents stopped paying altogether, resulting in significant financial losses for the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

The new scheme aims to resolve this crisis by reviewing previous bills and providing a one-time settlement opportunity to all eligible users.

• Reassessment of old water bills

• Waiver of pending dues, late fees, and arrears

• Updated, corrected bills will be sent directly to consumers

• Once approved, over 90% of inflated bills could be waived

• The initiative could help DJB recover up to ₹2,500 crore in revenue

Delhi’s Water Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma has hinted that this will be a one-time opportunity for bill settlement. If missed, consumers may face a more complicated resolution process later.

Consumers are not required to apply for this scheme. The Delhi Jal Board will automatically issue updated bills. These must be paid within a specific timeframe. If anyone finds discrepancies in their revised bill, they can file a complaint.

Important tips for residents:

• Keep copies of old bills and any previous complaints made about wrong readings

• Ensure your water meter is functioning correctly

• Outdated meter reading methods

• Estimated billing during the pandemic

• Insufficient manpower: Only 1,000 meter readers for over 26.5 lakh connections

• Faulty meters and manual errors in bill processing

In addition to the waiver scheme, the Delhi government plans to modernize the billing system:

• Smart water meters will be installed across the city

• A new billing agency may be appointed to enhance efficiency

• Bills will be more transparent, showing detailed breakups of current and previous dues

• New technology is expected to reduce the role of middlemen and corruption

• Consumers will be able to pay bills easily and accurately

The current system lacks clarity and contributes to consumer dissatisfaction. The government believes a tech-driven upgrade will solve many of these issues permanently.

• Over 16 lakh Delhiites affected by wrong water bills

• Up to 90% waiver possible on inflated bills

• No need to apply — revised bills will be sent automatically

• Smart meters to replace faulty ones

• New billing software will eliminate middlemen and errors