New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) Eighteen government departments, both central and state, owe the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) a staggering Rs 63,019 crore in unpaid water bills, government officials said on Friday.
Mounting dues have contributed to a severe financial crisis at the city’s water utility.
Water Minister Parvesh Verma had earlier raised the matter of the financial crisis faced by the board due to pending payments up to Rs 1.42 lakh crore which includes commercial and domestic category consumers.
Among the highest defaulters is the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) which owes Rs 26,147 crore, followed by the Railways which has a pending water bills amounting of Rs 21,530 crores.
“The state health department owes Rs 6,684 crore and the Delhi Police has a pending bill of Rs 6,097 crore to DJB,” a government document read.
In total, state departments owe around Rs 33,295 crore and the central government departments have a pending bill of around Rs 29,723 crore, bringing the total to Rs 63,019 crore in water bills, the document said.
“Water is a shared responsibility, and ensuring its uninterrupted supply requires collective effort. Resolving these financial bottlenecks will significantly strengthen our capacity to maintain and improve the city’s water infrastructure,” Verma said.
“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure timely solutions in the best interest of every Delhi resident,” he added. PTI SSM SKY SKY
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