The people freindly scheme of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to provide its water connection holders, an option for hassle free payment and to register complaints related to filthy water, leakage, sewer overflow and missing manhole covers by using its app “mSeva”, has failed to yield the desired response. Majority of residents in the Ntional Capital still prefer to visit zonal offices to pay the bills.
At present the DJB provides potable water to the Delhi citizens and treats sewage water, has 25,00,000 connections across Delhi in which only 99,596 users downloaded the app and 22,000 people actually use it to make payments. The app was launched in January last year.
DJB officials claimed that the DJB had promoted 'e- method' of payment by using various means. "The agency keeps motivating users to use e-methods to pay for the services but still most of the users have not shown their interest in using it, instead they prefer to pay offline," the official said.
A senior official of DJB said that the agency had introduced the online payment option under the 'Revenue Management System' for the convenience of the people. Payments can be easily made through Paytm and Mobikwik by using app. "Various incentives such as cash backs, discounts among others are provided to the customers using the app," he said.
Officials also pointed out that one of the possible reasons can be the lack of trust in absence of the paper bill. Although SMS's are sent to the users regarding the payment of bill and the bill amounts.
"The app was launched to help the consumers in paying their water bills by sitting at home as earlier people have to visit DJB office or zonal offices to pay the bills. Observing less number of users, the agency has also taken it further on social media to promote it," the official said.
"Although the online bill payment is witnessing an upward trend compared to earlier ones but the number is still not satisfactory," he said.
It may be recalled that the DJB had launched the android app "mSeva' in January last year. "The app generates a bill, with a photo of the water meter. Besides bill payment the app also allows users to view and download their previous bills, payment receipts and check the water consumption graph. The DJB also lets users to apply for a new connection, disconnection, reopening, grievance logging and tracking application status.