One more chance to clear pending water, sewerage dues

Ludhiana: While giving yet another chance to defaulters who did not clear their long pending water supply and sewerage dues, the local bodies department has notified a one-time settlement scheme. As soon as the civic body received the notification on Wednesday, mayor Balkar Sandhu requested residents to make use of the scheme and clear their dues. The policy will remain implemented for the next six months. The civic body has to recover an outstanding amount of at least Rs300 crore from defaulters of water supply and sewerage dues.
For the first three months, residents will be able to avail waiver on interest as well as penalty, but if they pay after the first three months, then only the penalty would be waived. But it is necessary to deposit the entire amount in one go.
In the notification, it has been mentioned that residents can avail of the one-time settlement for water supply and sewerage dues, and there will be waiver of both interest and penalty on arrears of water supply and sewerage charges if the principal amount payable is deposited within a period of three months after the issuance of the notification. Similarly, only penalty will be waived off if the principal amount of arrears and interest is paid after three months, but less than six months from the issuance of notification. Defaulters will have to clear the pending amount in lumpsum, otherwise there will be no relief from interest and penalty, and it will also invite disconnection of water and sewerage connections.
Mayor Balkar Sandhu said, “This one-time settlement scheme was much awaited, and on Wednesday, it was notified. Residents who did not clear their outstanding amount should make use of this scheme to the fullest.”
Notably, the recovery of water supply and sewerage dues has become a tough task for the civic body, as against a target of almost Rs100 crore for this financial year, officials could not recover even half the amount. With the announcement of this scheme, officials are hoping to recover the pending amount from defaulters.