Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma on Wednesday addressed public concerns regarding inflated water bills and supply issues, assuring corrective measures and relief. Speaking to reporters, Verma blamed the former Aam Aadmi Party government for the problem, stating, "The previous administration took certain actions that led to water bills amounting to lakhs being sent even to homes as small as 25-50 yards."

He confirmed that an investigation was underway and that excessive charges would be adjusted. "We are looking into this. All inflated bills will be corrected, and if a bill is entirely incorrect, we will waive it," he said. Verma also mentioned that discussions with the Delhi Chief Minister had paved the way for relief on penalties, with an official announcement expected soon.

"We had a productive discussion with the Chief Minister regarding penalty relief, and an announcement will be made shortly. Those struggling to pay their bills need not worry," he assured. Addressing water shortages and sewer blockages, Verma criticized past mismanagement, questioning the utilization of funds under the previous government. He cited a case where a Rs 7 crore pipeline laid four years ago developed leaks upon usage, requiring Rs 5 crore for repairs.

He emphasized the current government's financial preparedness, stating, "Our Chief Minister has assured that we have the necessary funds and budget." Verma highlighted systemic neglect, pointing out that many of Delhi's water pipelines are over 40 years old and that the previous administration lacked a long-term strategy beyond patching leaks.

Outlining future plans, he proposed a comprehensive strategy for water and sewer management, population-based water distribution, and efforts to make Delhi "tanker-free." He also pledged to enhance transparency in the tanker system through GPS tracking and a centralized command center in the Jal Board. "We will ensure transparency in the tanker system with GPS tracking and a command center in the Jal Board," Verma concluded.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.