Settle water bills by March 31 — or Delhi govt will turn off the tap

The scheme, under which consumers are required to pay only the principal amount, could be availed by both domestic and government category consumers.

“Consumers who will not pay the principal amount of their bill even after LPSC relaxation, will have to pay the full amount after March 31 next year. If they do not, their water connection will be disconnected,” said a senior government official.

The government is planning to promote and advertise the scheme widely so that no one misses the opportunity, the official added.

Meanwhile, the government said on Friday that since the launch of the scheme, 20,980 customers have availed its benefits.

According to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) data, it has collected around Rs 32.79 crore in revenue and given a rebate of about Rs 96.30 crore so far.

Delhi has nearly 29 lakh registered water consumers, among whom over 15 lakh have pending dues. Of the total pending dues of Rs 16,000 crore, the government aims to recover Rs 5,100 crore after waiving the late payment surcharge of Rs 11,000 crore.

To accelerate the recovery process, the DJB is set to deploy a dedicated marketing and outreach team to drive awareness through a city-wide campaign. Advertisements will soon appear on DTC buses, Delhi Metro, FM Radio, newspapers, and digital platforms, along with partnerships with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and community groups, said officials.

The campaign will also emphasise that timely payment of water dues directly supports DJB’s efforts to clean the Yamuna, upgrade pipelines, and improve sewage treatment infrastructure.

“This is not just a financial exercise – it’s a step towards accountability, sustainability, and a cleaner Yamuna. Every rupee recovered will help strengthen Delhi’s water infrastructure and improve supply to every household. I urge all citizens to take advantage of this opportunity and contribute to Delhi’s water transformation,” Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Friday.

Officials further said that to boost on-ground performance, the government is considering incentives for meter readers and billing staff based on recovery efficiency – encouraging proactive consumer engagement and faster collections.