• Source:JND
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In a major relief to the residents of Delhi, Water Minister Parvesh Verma made a slew of announcements on key decisions taken in the board meeting of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

During a press conference, Verma announced that the interest rates have been brought down on the pending water bills.

Until now, water bills were charged at 5 per cent per bill-cycle compounding interest. Now, the rate has been reduced to 2 per cent per bill cycle. Previously, a Rs 100 water bill that would have grown to Rs 178 in a year will now be reduced to Rs 130. 

Interest waived off

Apart from that, the government has announced to waive the interest on outstanding water bills for the government and domestic consumers.

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The waiver scheme will be implemented from next month. According to the government decision, those who settle their bills by January 31 will get a 100 per cent discount on interest.

Those who deposit the bills by March 31 will get a 70 per cent discount on interest. Verma said that the camps will be set up across the national capital to provide ease to the customers in settling bills.

He also clarified that this if the first and last waiver scheme of the government in this tenure. At present, the outstanding water bills amount to Rs 87,589 crore. Out if this, Rs 80,463 crore.

The water bill has become a crucial document for the residents of Delhi. For any certificate, it will be mandatory to show a three-month water bill, just like electricity bills. For the commercial consumers, the waiver scheme will be announced later.

Connecting rates reduced

The legalisation of any illegal domestic connection will now cost Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 26,000 (till March 31, 2026). For illegal connection, the cost has been reduced to Rs 5,000 from earlier Rs 61,500.

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The Water Minister said that STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) and sewer line projects worth Rs 3,000 crore have been approved.

Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for these projects at an event at the Okhla STP on September 30. These projects will benefit 7 million people and also help clean the Yamuna.