New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) In a major relief for Delhi’s water consumers, the state government has extended the 100 per cent waiver of Late Payment Surcharge (LPSC) on outstanding water bills for both domestic and non-domestic consumers till March 31, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Sunday.

The extension comes as the scheme has already brought substantial relief to consumers across Delhi.

As of now, 5.27 lakh consumers, both domestic and non-domestic have benefited from the waiver scheme.

The relief has been substantial, with Rs 3,261 crore in LPSC already waived, providing significant financial relief to consumers seeking to settle their outstanding water dues.

On the revenue side, the Delhi Jal Board has so far collected Rs 815.84 crore in principal amount, comprising from domestic consumers and non-domestic consumers.

This is helping the Delhi Jal Board recover genuine dues while simultaneously providing relief to citizens, an official statement said.

The scheme covers 14.09 lakh domestic and 70,312 commercial consumers, giving a large number of Delhi residents and establishments an opportunity to settle their old outstanding water bills.

Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the extension reflects the Delhi government’s approach of combining financial discipline with sensitivity towards ordinary consumers.

“For a family, an old water bill can remain a worry for years. When LPSC keeps getting added, the amount can become difficult to clear. We wanted to give people a genuine opportunity — pay the principal amount and leave the burden of LPSC behind,” he added.

He said that the Delhi government has deliberately kept the relief simple and transparent.

“We are not asking people to pay more. We are asking people to pay what they actually owe. If the principal amount is paid, 100 per cent LPSC will be waived. This is real relief for consumers and, at the same time, a responsible way of strengthening the Jal Board’s finances,” he added.

The Minister also made it clear that the extended deadline should not be seen as an open-ended relaxation.

As per the Delhi Jal Board’s order, the waiver has been extended up to March 31, 2027, and no further extension will be allowed beyond this date.

–IANS

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