No consumer should be deprived of water over dues, obstacles: Delhi govt

The CM also announced that consumers with unauthorised water connections will be able to get regular connections by paying a small token amount till January 31, 2026, as against the higher penalties that are in place.

Speaking on late payment surcharges, Gupta maintained that the government wants to ensure no consumer is deprived of water services due to outstanding dues or technical obstacles.

“Water bills are calculated on a two-monthly basis, and late payments accrue compound interest surcharges, which often create difficulties for residents and even result in disconnection in some cases… Under the LPSC rebate scheme, any late payment surcharge incurred by domestic consumers so far will be waived off… To avail this benefit, one has to pay the principal amount and settle the water dues by January 31, 2026,” she said.

Payments can be made in installments, with the benefit applying only once the principal amount has been fully paid, she added.

“From February 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026, a 70% waiver on late payment charges will be available,” Gupta said, emphasising that this is a time-limited, final scheme intended to encourage timely payments.

Before implementing the scheme, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has addressed technical deficiencies in its billing system, which had disrupted processes and prevented the addition of new consumers under the previous government, she said.

Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh called it a Diwali gift for the people of Delhi. “This step has been taken in public interest to ensure people have access to legal connections. While it may result in financial loss for DJB, it will greatly benefit the public. Our government has presented a Diwali gift to the people.”

“We are modernising and strengthening the DJB system, increasing the number of water consumers, enhancing sewer facilities, and implementing projects to keep Yamuna clean,” he added.

The total outstanding amount of pending water bills (including all categories — domestic, government, and commercial) that Delhi Jal Board has to collect is Rs 87,589 crore. Of this, the principal amount is Rs 7,125 crore and the LPSC charge is Rs 80,463 crore, which is 91% of the total bill, officials said.

AAP’s Delhi unit chief, Saurabh Bharadwaj, said the new scheme will not resolve “wrong bills” issues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a post on X, he said, “The DJB amnesty scheme for water bills being introduced by the BJP government is not an effective scheme. The wrong bills that were issued during the Corona period, this scheme is not resolving them… Now those same wrong bills are being imposed on the people.”

The CM, meanwhile, announced the Unauthorised Water and Sewer Connection Regularisation Scheme, which will be in effect until January 31, 2026.

Under this scheme, significant reductions will be applied to penalties for unauthorised connections, she added. For domestic connections, the token penalty will be only Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 25,000, while for non-domestic connections, the charge will be reduced to Rs 5,000 from Rs 61,000.

“Many households use water or sewer connections without authorisation due to a lack of awareness or inability to pay regularisation fees. The relief applies only to penalties; regular water and sewer charges and infrastructure fees must still be paid. Consumers who do not regularise connections after this period will face disconnection,” Gupta said.

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