Get a meter if you want free water or face penalty: DJB

Only 40% of the total 17 lakh homes that have water connections in Delhi are getting the free 20,000 litres free water as promised by the Aam Aadmi Party government.

Reason: The rest about 10 lakh homes either have a nonfunctional water meter or consume more than 20,000 litres of water per month, denying them the subsidy.

In order to remove the anomaly, the Delhi Jal Board on Thursday notified a scheme of regularising illegal connections. Under this scheme, all those residing in plotted colonies can get their illegal connections regularised by paying a sum of ` 3,300 for new regular connection for domestic and mixed use. A DJB official said earlier people had to shell out ` 18,644 to get their connections legalised.

Of the total 21.5 lakh total water connections in the Capital, only 17 lakh are active or are in use. Of these 3 lakh metered connections are nonfunctional.

Though the scheme was announced in May itself but a notification has been issued now allowing people to submit their applications with the DJB. “This move will encourage consumers to take water through an authorised connection. This scheme is a part of DJB’s agenda to provide piped water to all. This scheme will also help us in cutting down on non-revenue water loss,” said a senior DJB official.

T hose who are drawing water illegally may face a penalty of ` 2,000

“There are a number of tenants who have directly tapped into our network and are drawing water illegally. They can be prosecuted for this. We are giving them an opportunity to get their connections legalised. Also, if there consumption is less than 20,000 litres they will not have to pay a single penny,” said a senior Delhi Jal Board official.

Sources said that there are approximately 2-3 lakh illegal water connections in the city that result in huge revenue loss for the water utility.

Free water had been one of the key poll promises of the Aam Aadmi Party.