The Delhi government is considering a proposal to make water bills a mandatory document for property registration in the national capital, officials said Tuesday, as published by Millennium Post.
If approved, the measure would be the first of its kind in the city and is aimed at expanding the water and sewerage network while curbing revenue losses from unregistered and illegal connections.
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is currently evaluating the proposal and has sent a formal communication to the sub-registrar’s office for feedback, a senior DJB official confirmed.
As of now, Delhi has about 2.9 million registered water connections, a figure officials say is far below the actual number of households in the city. In many neighborhoods—particularly in unauthorized colonies—residents continue to use water services without a formal connection, even where infrastructure is present. This not only affects the DJB’s revenue but also contributes to poor wastewater management.
Officials said the inclusion of water bills in the property registration process would be similar to the use of electricity bills, which are already commonly accepted as address proof during such transactions.
“This will help ensure that all pending water dues are cleared and connections are regularized at the time of property sale or purchase,” an official said.
The measure is also being viewed as part of a broader plan to address longstanding issues with Delhi’s sewer infrastructure. Currently, only about 1,200 of the city’s 1,800 unauthorized colonies are connected to the sewer network.
Earlier this month, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma announced that all unauthorized colonies would be connected to sewer lines by 2027. As part of this plan, the government intends to install 40 decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs) to expand coverage.
“There is a direct connection between proper property documentation and improved infrastructure,” another DJB official said. “If property owners are required to show water bill records, it will encourage more households to take formal connections, improving overall network usage and reducing untreated waste flowing into the Yamuna.”
The proposal is also expected to minimize common disputes during property transactions caused by unpaid water bills. Officials said that requiring water bills during registration could improve transparency and prevent complications for buyers and sellers alike.