Pb to table new water billing policy before cabinet

To streamline water usage and billing and bring down water losses, Punjab's department of Local Government will present policy notifications to the state cabinet for approval.
An official spokesperson said after a meeting of the department, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, that the minister-in-charge, Navjot Singh Sidhu, would lay the notifications before the cabinet at its next meeting seeking approval for implementation.
The Water Billing Policy will ensure at least 90 per cent billing on water supply and sewerage charges and also provide for making an action plan to reduce water losses to less than 20 per cent.
The minister will also seek approval for adoption of a policy on user charges for individual and institutional assessments, in which a differential rate is charged for water use and adequate safeguards are included to take care of the interests of the vulnerable, said the spokesperson.

These policy initiatives, he said, were part of the state government's efforts to bring urban development mission work on track and ensure 100 per cent basic civic amenities for the people of Punjab.
Underlining the need for innovative measures to tackle the state's water problem, the chief minister suggested shifting to surface water supply in areas like Ludhiana and Jalandhar on account of the drying up and contamination of tubewell water.