Following widespread consumer complaints against flawed water bills issued by the Delhi Jal Board, the Delhi Government on Wednesday said it will soon organise camps to sort out the issue and also asked consumers to pay only the current charges.
Consumers from several areas in the city have been getting inflated bills that include arrears for dues that have been paid by the consumers, but are not reflected in the DJB’s records. The Board is undertaking a revenue management system overhaul and is in the process of allowing online payment of bills.
For the past several months, however, consumers have been receiving inflated bills on account of technical glitches that the water utility is yet to sort out.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is also the chairperson of the DJB, on Wednesday said consumers will not have to pay arrears in water and sewerage bills, and a special campaign will be launched soon to settle the outstanding amount.
To placate angry consumers the government has also decided to waive off late payment surcharge against the arrears for the domestic category only.
The Chief Minister announced that the DJB will organise special camps across the city for the next two months to resolve the billing issues. Dispute resolution committees will be set up under respective zonal revenue offices to organise the camps and the Committees will be authorised to take decisions on the spot for settling the balance arrears and for quick resolution.
Consumers in domestic category can avail this benefit of waiver of late payment surcharge by settling the balance arrears during the special camps, Ms. Dikshit said and instructed the DJB to install a notice board outside the offices of ZROs stating details of the settlement of arrears and waiving off late payment surcharge on the spot.
The water utility has also been asked to set up a special cell in the chief executive officer’s office to deal with cases, suggestions and complaints submitted by Members of Parliament and the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
A number of MLAs, cutting across party lines had complained to the Chief Minister about the inflated water bills.
Ms. Dikshit assured the MLAs that work of providing water and sanitation facilities to residents of the recently regularised colonies is also being expedited.
