New Delhi, Jan 30 (NationPress) Delhi's Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh declared on Friday that the Late Payment Surcharge (LPSC) Waiver Scheme for domestic water users has been extended until August 15.

He noted that the LPSC Waiver Scheme has garnered an impressive response from the public, with over 3.30 lakh consumers taking advantage of it, resulting in the cancellation of nearly Rs 1,500 crore in late fees, while more than Rs 430 crore in principal payments has been successfully collected as of January 29.

Encouraged by the robust participation from the community, along with requests from elected officials, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and citizens throughout Delhi, the government has decided to prolong the LPSC Waiver Scheme until August 15.

Parvesh Sahib Singh described the public response as a decisive rejection of previous mismanagement and a strong endorsement of a reform-oriented administration.

“The residents of Delhi are willing to settle their water bills. They seek integrity, transparency, and accurate billing. This overwhelming response to the LPSC Waiver Scheme demonstrates that Delhi’s populace is responsible and eager to engage when the system operates fairly,” asserted Parvesh Sahib Singh.

“For years, residents were burdened by excessive interest rates stemming from flawed systems. We have disrupted that cycle. This initiative is not merely about waivers; it is about rectifying injustices,” the Minister elaborated.

He also highlighted the significant outstanding dues from non-domestic users, including governmental bodies and private organizations.

Approximately 87,000 non-domestic connections have outstanding principal dues exceeding Rs 2,068 crore, indicative of years of inadequate enforcement and financial mismanagement.

The Water Minister emphasized that accountability will now extend beyond residential users.

“Reforms will not cease with domestic consumers. Major defaulters, whether government agencies or private firms, must pay their principal dues. Public funds cannot remain tied up due to administrative incompetence,” stated the Minister.

Officials noted that compared to the previous domestic LPSC waiver initiative from October 2022 to March 2023, which collected only Rs 235 crore in principal, the current scheme has already generated nearly double this amount in a significantly shorter time.

“This clearly indicates that when governance is transparent and intentions are sincere, the public responds positively. Delhi is witnessing a financial resurgence in the water sector,” remarked Parvesh Sahib Singh.

The decision to extend the scheme until August 15 was influenced by several public-interest factors, including requests from MLAs and community representatives; written appeals from RWAs across Delhi; legacy billing inaccuracies from previous administrations; reorganization of ZRO offices leading to temporary delays, and the necessity to provide residents with a final opportunity before strict enforcement measures.

“The former system instilled fear through inflated and erroneous billing practices. We are rectifying that broken framework. However, reforms require time, and citizens deserve some leeway. This is why we have extended the scheme,” the Minister concluded.