A report by the National Audit Office reveals that water bills totaling approximately Rs. 5 million for 23 ministerial residences remained unpaid by the end of last year.
The report also highlights that water charges owed by deceased public representatives cannot be recovered, as confirmed by the Secretary General of Parliament. Meanwhile, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) clarified that any outstanding bills for the private residences of public officials will be treated like those of ordinary consumers. Commercial officers have been instructed to disconnect water supply at locations where payments remain overdue.
Rs. 234 Million in Overdue Receivables
The audit further disclosed that the NWSDB has Rs. 234 million in receivables that have remained unpaid for more than two years. This amount includes commercial receivables, unpaid connection fees, water tariffs, and other arrears.
- 66% of these arrears are from the Western-Central, Western-North, and Western-South regions.
- New connection fees, which were supposed to be paid within three installments, include over Rs. 30 million in arrears that have remained outstanding for over three years.
Recovery Efforts and Recommendations
The NWSDB attributes the mounting arrears to gradual accumulation over time and assures that efforts are underway to collect these overdue amounts. However, the Audit Office has recommended the immediate collection of these pending dues and urged the NWSDB to take effective action to recover unpaid bills from all categories of debtors promptly.
This report highlights the need for stronger enforcement to avoid further accumulation of unpaid bills in the future.