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The Delhi Jal Board has extended its Late Payment Surcharge (LPS) waiver scheme until August 15, giving water consumers another window to clear long-pending dues without penalties, even as the government moves to fix deep-rooted billing and service delivery problems that surfaced during the scheme’s rollout. The extension comes amid widespread complaints over overcrowded offices, staff shortages, outdated infrastructure and incomplete consumer records, which together disrupted bill payments and forced many residents to wait in long queues.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma announced the decision on Friday, describing the extension as a one-time measure aimed at stabilising the system while a comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) verification drive and billing reforms are carried out. The scheme, formally titled the Delhi Jal Board Late Payment Surcharge Scheme 2025–26, was initially scheduled to end earlier but has now been pushed to mid-August to allow both consumers and officials time to adapt to the changes.

Addressing a press conference, Verma said the government had received multiple complaints from residents who faced difficulties while trying to submit their bills. According to the minister, operational lapses at several zonal revenue offices played a key role in the chaos.

He cited instances where cashiers were absent from counters, officers reported late for duty and basic facilities were missing, resulting in long queues and frustration among consumers. Many residents, he said, were unable to take advantage of the waiver despite their willingness to clear dues.

Taking these issues into account, the government decided to extend the waiver period once more. Verma said the move was discussed with the Chief Minister, who approved the extension to ensure that systemic problems are addressed before the scheme finally closes.

The minister urged residents not to delay payments unnecessarily, stressing that the August 15 deadline should be treated as final.

The government has made it clear that the extension is not intended to become a recurring exercise. Verma underlined that the waiver is being extended “only once” to allow time for system upgrades and administrative corrections.

Officials believe that repeated extensions could weaken payment discipline and create expectations of future amnesties. The current extension, therefore, is being positioned as a transitional arrangement while the Delhi Jal Board modernises its billing and customer service framework.

Consumers with outstanding dues have been advised to use the additional time to settle their bills and avoid waiting until the last few days, when offices are likely to see a surge in footfall.

A key pillar of the overhaul is a city-wide KYC verification exercise aimed at cleaning up the Delhi Jal Board’s consumer database. The minister said the focus is on creating a system where consumers receive timely alerts, bills and reminders directly on their mobile phones, reducing dependence on physical counters.

The Delhi Jal Board plans to use the extension period to encourage more residents to shift towards online bill payments. The government hopes that once systems are stabilised and KYC verification is completed, online payments will become the default option for most consumers.

Reducing physical footfall at zonal offices is also expected to ease pressure on staff and minimise long queues during peak periods.

The minister also flagged serious infrastructure deficiencies at several zonal revenue offices, where bills are submitted and complaints are handled. In one instance, Verma noted, cash was being counted manually due to the absence of basic equipment such as cash-counting machines. He said such gaps are unacceptable and contribute directly to inefficiency and public inconvenience.

The government is now reviewing staffing patterns and equipment requirements at these offices, with plans to deploy additional cashiers, modern machines and better facilities where needed.

With the waiver extended until August 15, residents with pending water bills have a clear opportunity to regularise their accounts without paying late payment surcharges.