Commercial establishments to be billed on sewage discharge

In a major reform aimed at addressing water misuse and revenue loss, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma has announced that all major commercial establishments in the city such as hotels, shopping malls, banquet halls and private hospitals will now be billed based on the volume of sewage they discharge, rather than relying on traditional water meter readings.

The minister said this step would ensure that every drop of water consumed is accounted for, particularly by those making significant profits while exploiting public resources.

The minister noted that most of these commercial entities either lack legal water connections or do not have functional meters. Despite this, they continue to discharge large volumes of sewage daily, leading to massive revenue losses for the government.

“Every drop will now be accounted for. The more sewage you release, the more you will pay for water,” said Parvesh Verma. “The free ride for those making crores using public resources is over,” he said.

Under the new system, the Delhi Government will calculate water usage based on the sewage output. Any establishment that cannot provide evidence of its water source or lacks a working water meter will be billed based on its sewage discharge. These figures will be cross-verified with sewage treatment data and commercial licensing information. The government hopes this move will help curb water theft and recover hundreds of crores in lost revenue.

The policy specifically targets commercial violators and will have no impact on domestic users, including residents, slum dwellers or low-income households.

“This is not a tax, it’s a question of responsibility,” the minister said. “Profit-making institutions can no longer run on free public water while giving nothing back. That will not be tolerated anymore,” he said.

Verma also criticised previous administrations, stating that for years, large commercial players were allowed to consume water without any accountability. He said the new system would put an end to this unchecked exploitation and promote fairness, discipline and responsible use of public resources. The policy, he added, was a step toward a more transparent and equitable water management system in the Capital.