Delhi CM announces one-time waiving water arrears

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, announced that the consumers residing in colonies categorized as E, F, G, H (which are considered as lower class residential areas in Delhi) would not have to pay water arrears. In order to avail the waiver, the consumer must be having functional domestic meters. Speaking at a press conference on August 27, Kejriwal said that the 10.5 lakh people residing in such colonies would benefit from the move. Also, late payment surcharge would be waived off for all consumers, irrespective of categorisation, who get the functional meter installed by November 30, 2019.

For ‘A’ and ‘B’ category colonies, 100 per cent Late Payment Surcharge (LPSC) will be waived while 25 per cent of principal arrear will also be waived. People living in ‘C’ category colonies will also get a 50 per cent waiver on their principal arrear and 100 per cent LPSC waiver, he said. In ‘D’ category colonies, people will get a waiver of 100 per cent LPSC and 75 per cent principal arrear.  

“We are expecting to earn Rs 600 crore through this scheme. This is an attempt to clean our books. The arrears have accumulated not just due to non-payment of bills but also due to the fault on Delhi Jal Board’s (DJB) part including in the billing system,” said Kejriwal.