Urban domestic water consumers in Nurpur and other towns across Kangra district have begun receiving water bills after an 11-month hiatus, sparking significant resentment due to an 81% increase in monthly charges. The bills cover the period from April to August of the current year, with the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) having previously deferred billing for an extended duration.
Billing Resumes with Elevated Charges
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the Jal Shakti Department resumed issuing water bills to urban domestic consumers in Nurpur and other towns within Kangra district, covering the period from April to August. This resumption follows a deferral of billing for an 11-month stretch, initially planned from May 2025 to March 2026, a move that had led to apprehensions among residents about potentially facing a large accumulated sum. While the department’s decision to defer the bills for the longer period has now spared consumers from clearing dues for that specific duration, the reimposed billing cycle at an enhanced monthly rate of Rs 444 has triggered considerable opposition among residents.
The prolonged interruption in billing had fueled concerns among households that they might be compelled to settle a substantial accumulated amount in a single payment. The Tribune newspaper had previously highlighted this issue on September 3, detailing the difficulties faced by urban consumers due to the delay in billing processes.
Departmental Actions and Consumer Concerns
The Jal Shakti Department, responsible for supplying piped water to a majority of urban local bodies in the region, had ceased its practice of issuing bills on a quarterly basis in April of the current year. Both domestic and commercial consumers were left without regular bills during this period, creating uncertainty regarding their financial liabilities and impeding households’ ability to monitor their water consumption expenditures.
According to official sources, the department had deferred bills for the 11-month period spanning from May 2025 to March 2026, subsequently resuming billing from April 2026. However, consumers have voiced strong objections to the revised monthly charge for a domestic connection, which has been set at Rs 444, a significant increase from the previous charge of Rs 243 that was in effect until March 2025.
This substantial increase has caused particular distress among individuals reliant on daily wages, pensioners, and economically weaker households. For these segments of the population, a higher recurring utility bill imposes additional pressure on managing essential household expenses. Consumers are now seeking clear explanations from the department regarding whether these new charges reflect a fundamental alteration in the tariff structure or have been determined under a revised policy framework.
Objections Raised by Resident Groups
Promod Mahajan, the president of the Nurpur Sudhar Sabha, and P.D. Sahotra, the general secretary of the Town Welfare Committee, have formally expressed strong opposition to the significant hike in domestic water charges. They have appealed to the Jal Shakti Department to implement measures that provide relief to vulnerable households and to ensure the consistent and regular issuance of water bills to all consumers.
Historically, the Jal Shakti Department, which was formerly known as the Irrigation and Public Health Department, had adhered to an annual water tariff revision policy. This policy, in effect since 2005, stipulated a 10 percent increase in water charges each April, continuing until March 2025.
Engineer’s Statement and Future Implications
Sanjay Thakur, the Superintending Engineer of the JSD in Nurpur, informed The Tribune that the department had issued a notification on April 2 of the current year. This notification established the domestic water charges for urban consumers at Rs 14 per kilolitre, with exceptions for newly merged areas and recently constituted urban local bodies. He also advised urban consumers to proactively install water meters on their premises if they wished to opt for metered billing. Mr. Thakur added that the JSD would provide guidance to consumers interested in installing these meters.
The Chenab Times News Desk