Delhi Residents to Receive 100% Waiver on Water Bill Late Payment Charges

New Delhi, Oct 14, 2025 – In a move aimed at easing the financial strain on households, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a complete waiver on late payment surcharges for domestic water bills until January 31, 2026. The decision, revealed at a press conference today, is expected to provide significant relief to residents grappling with outstanding water dues.

The waiver applies to all domestic consumers in Delhi, offering a 100% exemption on late payment charges accrued on their water bills if the outstanding principal amount is settled by January 31, 2026. Payments can be made in a single lump sum or through installments, with the waiver benefit applicable once the full principal amount is cleared.

Recognizing that some residents may require more time, Chief Minister Gupta also announced a subsequent waiver of 70% on late payment charges for payments made between February 1 and March 31, 2026. This tiered approach aims to encourage timely payments while providing continued assistance to those who need it.

According to the Chief Minister, the scheme could result in the waiver of approximately ₹11,000 crore in late payment surcharges if all consumers take advantage of the offer. She emphasized that this is a time-limited initiative intended to promote timely payments and ensure that no consumer is deprived of water services due to outstanding dues or technical issues.

Water Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh hailed the decision as a Diwali gift for the people of Delhi, underscoring the government's commitment to public welfare. He stated that the move aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Delhi Jal Board, the agency responsible for water supply in the capital.

In addition to the late payment surcharge waiver, Chief Minister Gupta announced a significant reduction in penalties for regularizing unauthorized water and sewer connections. Domestic consumers can now regularize such connections for a penalty of ₹1,000, while commercial connections can be regularized for ₹5,000.

Previously, the charges for converting illegal water connections were ₹25,000 for domestic users and ₹61,000 for non-domestic consumers, but now have been slashed to ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 respectively. The Unauthorised Water and Sewer Connection Regularisation Scheme will be in effect until January 31, 2026.

The Chief Minister explained that many households use unauthorized connections due to a lack of awareness or inability to pay regularization fees and that the relief applies only to penalties; regular water and sewer charges and infrastructure fees must still be paid. Consumers who do not regularize connections after this period will face disconnection.

The Delhi Jal Board's total pending water bill collection stands at ₹87,589 crore, of which ₹80,463 crore (91%) comprises late payment surcharges. The waiver scheme aims to improve compliance and revenue recovery while ensuring water accessibility for all citizens. Before implementing the waiver scheme, the Delhi Jal Board addressed technical deficiencies in its billing system, which had disrupted processes and prevented the addition of new consumers under the previous government.