Delhi government is preparing to launch a large-scale waiver scheme slashing unpaid domestic water bills by as much as 90%.
The initiative was announced by Urban Development and Jal Board Minister Parvesh Verma during a press conference marking the BJP-led administration’s first 100 days in office.According to internal data reviewed from an April 2024 Delhi Jal Board (DJB) report, nearly 1.17 million water consumers in the capital collectively owed over ₹5,737 crore in dues as of June last year. Since then, that number has only grown, with 422,000 connections registering non-payment in the past year alone — a signal of systemic breakdown in billing, trust, and affordability.
The capital currently has 2.89 million registered water connections. Despite DJB launching five separate amnesty or rebate schemes in the past 12 years to clear the backlog, the effort has struggled to deliver lasting results. Officials now face the dual challenge of reinvigorating revenue flows while safeguarding equity for Delhi’s consistently paying residents.While Minister Verma confirmed that the scheme will offer steep reductions — up to 90% in some cases — he did not disclose details on implementation or whether eligibility will be means-tested. Key concerns remain unresolved, especially regarding the moral hazard it may create for diligent payers, and how long-term compliance will be ensured.
The issue is politically charged. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governed Delhi until early 2024, had proposed a similar “one-time settlement” initiative to waive “inflated” water bills in June 2023. However, administrative gridlocks and post-election turbulence derailed those efforts.With the BJP now in control of Delhi’s civic governance, this renewed push to regularise water dues forms a critical part of its urban strategy. “The billing system is also going to be updated. New software is under development and we are addressing the technical issues,” Verma noted, hinting at a structural overhaul of DJB’s outdated billing mechanism, which has long been blamed for inconsistencies and overbilling.
The announcement taps into a wider concern about water equity in a city where access varies drastically between formal colonies and unauthorised settlements. While some residents benefit from subsidised or free water supply, others complain of erratic billing and opaque metering practices.Experts argue that while a blanket waiver might temporarily appease the public and clean the DJB’s balance sheet, systemic reforms are essential to prevent recurrence. Without modernised metering infrastructure, digital grievance redressal, and transparent consumer communication, Delhi’s water governance risks slipping further into reactive policymaking.
As the city braces for peak summer demand and the looming monsoon season, water access, affordability, and infrastructure resilience are fast becoming political and civic priorities. Whether the bill waiver scheme becomes a stepping stone toward long-term reform or a short-term populist fix will depend on its execution — and how fairly it balances relief with accountability.
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Delhi Plans Massive Waiver on Water Bills
