Himachal Pradesh Halts Water Bill Collection in Rural Areas

Shimla, February 27 – The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to halt the collection of water bills in rural areas following public feedback. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took this decision after concerns were raised over the implementation of ₹100 per month water charges for rural households, which had been in effect since October 1, 2024.

Chief Minister’s Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan informed the media on Thursday that the Jal Shakti Department had initiated the process of registering water connections before issuing bills. However, the government has now put the billing process on hold.

There are around 17 lakh rural water consumers in the state, with the highest number of connections (4 lakh) in Kangra district. Some sections of society, including widows, divorced women, persons with disabilities, and families with an annual income below ₹50,000, were already exempted from water charges.

The state had 7.63 lakh water connections before the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, and the scheme has since added approximately 9.50 lakh new connections, ensuring wider access to drinking water.