Latest news with #ParveshSahibSingh
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
In relief for Delhiites, govt to soon waive ‘pending, inflated' water bills: Minister
In a major relief to residents of the national capital, the Delhi government is soon going to waive 'pending, inflated' water bills, along with the late payment surcharge, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said Monday. Addressing a press conference on the BJP completing 100 days in power and the achievements of his departments, he said, 'A scheme to waive all domestic water bills is under preparation and it will be implemented soon. Once it is launched, all domestic water bills will be reduced by around 90%…' 'But until this scheme is officially launched, I have already said that if someone hasn't paid their bill, their connection won't be disconnected for now. The people of Delhi are aware that the government is bringing a new scheme, so everyone is waiting for it… So, until the bill payments are sorted out — and right now there are some technical issues — once that is resolved and the scheme is launched, it will reduce the inflated and pending bills up to 90%,' he added. He said that, currently, the software being used by the Delhi Jal Board was developed and maintained by Wipro. 'Their lease period has already ended, and they have been given an extension… the company has refused to make any further changes to the current system… Once this is resolved, the scheme will be launched,' he said. Sources said that under this scheme, the focus will be on waiving the Late Payment Surcharge (LPSC) of domestic bills. 'LPSC charges are calculated at 18% interest plus compounding charges,' said sources. Currently, in the domestic category, the outstanding bill amount is approximately Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,000 crore, out of which Rs 7,000 crore is LPSC. 'If we waive that, we will still be able to recover at least Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crore,' said sources. 'Because several residents have not paid their bills for the past 8-9 years, this is an incentive for them to pay the principal amount. Once LPSC is waived, the government will rationalise the bills and give a timeline to the people to pay the principal amount. They will be asked to pay the bills in three to four months. No more extensions or schemes will come after this,' said sources. Besides, the minister also said that the government plans to upgrade the water billing system to address the challenges of revenue losses. According to officials, Delhi has approximately 29 lakh water connections. As per the 2011 census, Delhi has 34 lakh households. Last year, the previous AAP government also announced a one-time settlement scheme for pending water bills ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that it would benefit around 12 lakh consumers, of which 7 lakh will not have to pay any amount. However, the scheme hit a roadblock after the Finance Department raised questions and said that it would lead to financial implications. It said that the benefits of the scheme should not be given to the consumers who have not paid the bills for the last 11 years.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi: Data, verification, eligibility— why Mahila Samriddhi scheme is stuck
Non-availability of consolidated data of eligible beneficiaries, time-consuming verification process, and delay in developing an online portal are among the reasons behind the delay in implementing the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, one of the top poll promises of the ruling BJP. Under the scheme, the government has promised a monthly aid of Rs 2,500 to women with a household income under Rs 2.5 lakh. The BJP initially promised to deliver the scheme by March 8, International Women's Day. However, it was approved by the Delhi Cabinet after the deadline passed, and a budget of Rs 5,100 crore was allocated. The government constituted a high-level committee headed by CM Rekha Gupta and ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Ashish Sood as members to finalise the eligibility criteria, norms, and implementation of this scheme. Asked about the reasons behind the delay and expected launch of the scheme, the CM said, 'I believe that the time we've had so far is a very short period to implement a detailed and foolproof plan. It needs to be fully prepared and presented to the public.' She said verification of eligible candidates will be completed, and registration will take place. 'As I have repeatedly said, the Mahila Samriddhi Scheme is not a one-time scheme. It is meant to reach every single woman who comes from a poor family… We do not want even a single eligible woman to be left out… We don't want to implement it in a hurry,' she added. 'We want this scheme to be implemented in a way that an eligible woman can apply every month for financial assistance… Work is on to create a detailed plan… It will soon be implemented,' the CM added. The Delhi government has decided to create a unique data hub with consolidated data to identify eligible candidates, according to officials. To collect this data, the department has started verification of ration card and BPL (below poverty line) card holders to weed out ineligible candidates. The IT department, which is executing the data hub project, has selected six departments — Department of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Revenue, MCD, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and Labour — on a pilot basis to implement its ambitious Unified Data Hub (UDH) project, which will consolidate data from various departments in a single space to ensure only eligible people avail the benefits of welfare schemes. Moreover, sources said, the committee formed to decide the eligibility norms for the Rs 2,500 scheme met last week under the chairmanship of the CM. Defining a family as husband, wife, and children; capping annual family income at Rs 2.5 lakh; limiting the scheme to women aged between 21 and 60 years; one beneficiary per family; and non-owner of a vehicle — these are among the eligibility criteria being considered for the scheme. 'The scheme is likely to be implemented before the Bihar elections, which are in November,' an official said.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Delhi residents wade through civic woes after overnight downpour
New Delhi Heavy overnight rain disrupted life across Delhi on Sunday, leading to extensive waterlogging, outages, flight delays, and infrastructure damage in several parts of the Capital. The downpour, accompanied by strong winds, also brought the maximum temperature down to 31.8 degrees Celsius – 8.6 degrees Celsius below normal, offering a temporary break from the heat. The city's main weather station at Safdarjung recorded 81.2 mm of rainfall between 11:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., with wind speeds reaching up to 82 km/h. The incessant rain resulted in waterlogging near Delhi airport, the underpasses at Zakhira, ITO, Azadpur Market, and Rohtak Road. At two underpasses – Minto Bridge and Delhi Cantonment– vehicles were seen submerged. Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) confirmed that a junior engineer and a pump operator responsible for managing the Minto Bridge underpass, one of seven designated waterlogging hotspots, would be suspended. The supervising assistant engineer will receive a show-cause notice for delays in response. Airport damage Operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport were also hit. Flightradar24, a flight tracking service, reported that around 180 flights were delayed and several were cancelled. Waterlogging was reported inside Terminal 3, and a section of the tensile fabric roof outside the domestic terminal collapsed under the weight of accumulated rainwater. 'There was no structural compromise or impact on other parts of the terminal,' an airport official said. The rain and strong winds disrupted the electricity supply in Bawana, Ghogha village, Sector 25 Rohini, DSIIDC Narela, Sultanpuri, Sector 22 Rohini, Karala, Badli, Siraspur, Avantika, Mangolpuri, RU Block Pitampura, and Rithala village, said a spokesperson of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited. Political fallout The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh of being absent during the crisis. 'Just one spell of rain and Delhi is drowning under this four-engine BJP government,' said senior AAP leader Atishi, sharing photos of submerged vehicles at Minto Bridge. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said, 'Delhi is completely waterlogged, yet the Minister is missing'. Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva said that under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's directions, the party's MLAs, councillors, and civic officials mobilised early Sunday to clear trees and drain water from critical junctions. 'By noon, the situation was largely under control,' he claimed. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast 'very light' to 'light' rainfall for five of the next six days.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
City residents wade through civic woes after overnight downpour
New Delhi Heavy overnight rain disrupted life across Delhi on Sunday, leading to extensive waterlogging, outages, flight delays, and infrastructure damage in several parts of the Capital. The downpour, accompanied by strong winds, also brought the maximum temperature down to 31.8 degrees Celsius – 8.6 degrees Celsius below normal, offering a temporary break from the heat. The city's main weather station at Safdarjung recorded 81.2 mm of rainfall between 11:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., with wind speeds reaching up to 82 km/h. The incessant rain resulted in waterlogging near Delhi airport, the underpasses at Zakhira, ITO, Azadpur Market, and Rohtak Road. At two underpasses – Minto Bridge and Delhi Cantonment– vehicles were seen submerged. Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) confirmed that a junior engineer and a pump operator responsible for managing the Minto Bridge underpass, one of seven designated waterlogging hotspots, would be suspended. The supervising assistant engineer will receive a show-cause notice for delays in response. Airport damage Operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport were also hit. Flightradar24, a flight tracking service, reported that around 180 flights were delayed and several were cancelled. Waterlogging was reported inside Terminal 3, and a section of the tensile fabric roof outside the domestic terminal collapsed under the weight of accumulated rainwater. 'There was no structural compromise or impact on other parts of the terminal,' an airport official said. The rain and strong winds disrupted the electricity supply in Bawana, Ghogha village, Sector 25 Rohini, DSIIDC Narela, Sultanpuri, Sector 22 Rohini, Karala, Badli, Siraspur, Avantika, Mangolpuri, RU Block Pitampura, and Rithala village, said a spokesperson of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited. Political fallout The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh of being absent during the crisis. 'Just one spell of rain and Delhi is drowning under this four-engine BJP government,' said senior AAP leader Atishi, sharing photos of submerged vehicles at Minto Bridge. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said, 'Delhi is completely waterlogged, yet the Minister is missing'. Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva said that under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's directions, the party's MLAs, councillors, and civic officials mobilised early Sunday to clear trees and drain water from critical junctions. 'By noon, the situation was largely under control,' he claimed. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast 'very light' to 'light' rainfall for five of the next six days.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Residential complex for judicial officers in Delhi's Dwarka: PWD bars NCCBM for 2 yrs over poor construction
The Public Works Department (PWD) has debarred the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), a research and development organisation under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and a private contractor for two years over the poor construction quality of 70 residential flats for judicial officers in Dwarka's Sector 19 in West Delhi. Last year, the flats were demolished due to the substandard construction, even before the allotment. The orders comes days after Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh directed the department to blacklist the contractor and initiate a vigilance enquiry against nine PWD officials, including the Chief Engineer and Superintendent Engineers, involved in the project. NCCBM was unavailable for comment on the matter when approached by The Indian Express. The Finance Department had recently deferred a proposal, moved by the PWD, to reconstruct flats on the land. According to the latest order issued by the PWD on Wednesday, 'a third-party quality assurance services' work was executed by the NCCBM under agreement with a stipulated date of start as March 1, 2016, up to completion of the main project. The construction work on the project was awarded in 2014 with a stipulated target to complete it by February 2017. But the first contract was rescinded in 2018, and an amount of Rs 30 crore against the total cost of Rs 48 crore was spent, as per officials. While the construction work by the private contractor, MBL Infrastructure, began on October 10, 2014, and targeted completion by April 2016, the work was rescinded on March 23, 2018, as per officials. The PWD order underlines that several cracks in the beam, column, and the facade had developed and were visible all across the five towers even before the allotment of the flats. 'The floors of quarters have swollen in upward directions, and RCC (reinforced cement concrete) cover portions of structural members — i.e. column, beams, chajja — are falling continuously. The reinforcement where the concrete has fallen is visible and seems corroded,' reads the document. 'The building, due to the appearance of serious distress in beams and columns, has to be demolished due to issues of structural safety pointed out in the report of IIT-Delhi… it is evident that the work was not executed with due diligence, which caused development of structural distress, corrosion in reinforcement leading to opening of cracks in beams, columns and also spalling of concrete within a short period of four years after completion of work,' said the PWD in the order. With no solution in sight, the PWD last year decided to demolish the building. According to officials, PWD issued a show cause notice to NCCBM and the contractor last year in October and sought an explanation as to why the agency should not be debarred from the tendering process for executing such poor quality of work. 'The reply to the show cause notice was received on October 10, 2014…whereas it was decided by the competent authority that an opportunity of being heard provided to you on May 6, 2025… Further, the competent authority allowed time to respond and submit a fresh written submission to the show cause notice by 13.05.2025. Further, your letter was received on May 7…,' said the PWD. Officials said that after careful examination of the submitted reply to the show cause notice and taking into consideration all the facts, PWD finally decided to debar NCCBM and MBL infrastructure from the tendering process for two years. However, officials said running contracts shall remain unaffected.
