Water and electricity bills need to be issued on a monthly and regular basis. However, of late it has been observed that the issuance of bills is often delayed, resulting in accumulated arrears that become difficult for daily wage workers to pay.
When questioned, meter readers often say they were on election duty. This explanation is difficult to accept, as elections take place throughout the year “ be it panchayat, zilla, municipal, State, or national elections.
The authorities should avoid assigning meter readers to election duty so that the problem of delayed and excessive billing can be resolved. This would also ensure that consumers face no difficulty in paying their bills on time.
