NEW DELHI — In a major relief for lakhs of Delhi residents grappling with inflated water bills, the Delhi government on Friday announced a 100% waiver on the Late Payment Surcharge for domestic consumers and government establishments.
The scheme, set to roll out next month likely around the festivals of Diwali or Karwa Chauth will be open until March 31, 2026. Water Minister Parvesh Verma announced the measure after chairing a Delhi Jal Board meeting, urging citizens to clear their principal dues, as this will be the “first and final scheme on late payment surcharges waiver.”
Addressing Staggering Unpaid Dues
Delhi’s total unpaid water dues currently stand at a staggering ₹87,589 crore. Of this amount, ₹80,463 crore, or 91%, is the accumulated surcharge (late fee). Under the domestic category alone, pending dues are ₹16,068 crore, with the surcharge accounting for ₹11,069 crore.
“For years, Delhiites have been receiving inflated water bills, sometimes running into lakhs of rupees, not because of water consumption but because of compounding interest at 5% per month,” Mr. Verma said.
Waiver Timeline and New Interest Rates
The scheme will run in two phases:
• Till January 31, 2026: A 100% waiver on the late payment surcharge.
• Till March 31, 2026: A 70% waiver on the surcharge.
The waiver applies only to the late payment fee and not to the principal bill amount.
In a move to ensure long-term relief and fairness, the DJB has also drastically slashed the surcharge rate for future bills from 5% to 2% per billing cycle for domestic and government users. Mr. Verma explained that under the old monthly compounding rate, a ₹100 bill would balloon to ₹178 in a year, whereas the new rate will see it rise only to ₹130.
Relief for Unauthorised Colonies
The government also announced a massive reduction in water regularisation fees to facilitate new connections, especially in unauthorized colonies. For domestic users, the fee has been cut from ₹26,000 to just ₹1,000, and for other categories, from ₹61,000 to ₹5,000.
To help residents apply and settle their dues, the DJB will set up dedicated awareness and facilitation camps across colonies, focusing on building trust and assisting consumers with bill settlement and eligibility guidance. The Board is also expanding its licensed plumber network to over 1,000 to fast-track approvals and process the nearly one lakh pending water connection applications.