DJB pulls up socks to deal with incorrect water billing

Swamped with complaints of incorrect billing from all across the city, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has initiated a new Revenue Management System (RMS) which is being rolled out in phases. Tata Consultancy Services is handling the project on DJB’s behalf. A DJB official said, ‘Under the new system, self reading of meters will become the norm, though it will be started on a trial basis initially.’

‘Consumers will read their own meters and feed the data into DJB’s online system on the basis of which bills will be issued. DJB will verify details once or twice a year. Hand-held meter readers will also be given out to DJB’s meter readers with which they would be able to generate bills on the spot’, added the official.

Sources said that the agency introduced this new system for generation and distribution of bills and to plug the loopholes.

Around 5.30 lakh bills in the new format have been generated under the new system and already distributed to the consumers. To the remaining consumers, DJB will sent bills in the next few days.

With over-billing having almost become a norm, DJB’s revenue officials openly accept that meter readers have created most of the problems. 

‘Very often they under-bill consumers so when someone does go to verify readings, consumers get a hefty bill. They indulge in other sorts of malpractices, too, but we are already short of meter readers-482 for over 2 lakh consumers-and hence cannot do much,’ said an official.