Aagya Khabar
Bardibas
The Bardibas Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Consumer Committee has successfully concluded its “Tap Disconnection Campaign,” which targeted households failing to pay their water bills. Launched on Ashar 18 (early July), the campaign has enabled the committee to recover approximately NPR 4.8 million in outstanding dues.
According to the committee, 312 consumers initially had outstanding balances, with more than NPR 1.5 million in long-pending dues. As the campaign progressed, the number of defaulters dropped to 289 as more consumers stepped forward to pay their dues.
Five-Phase Disconnection Strategy
The campaign was conducted in five phases, starting with consumers who owed more than NPR 100,000. The next phases targeted those with dues ranging from NPR 75,000 to 100,000; NPR 50,000 to 75,000; NPR 25,000 to 50,000; and finally, NPR 15,000 to 25,000.
The committee stated that connections for consumers who owe more than NPR 15,000 but for less than three months have not yet been disconnected.
Untraceable Consumers and Vacated Homes
During the campaign, field teams consisting of committee staff and board members encountered various situations. Some water taps had already been disconnected, while others belonged to consumers who had left without informing, sold their homes, or had passed away. A total of 20 such cases were identified, while 15 consumers were found to be completely out of contact.
114 Taps Reconnected After Payment
Following disconnection, 114 consumers paid their dues or agreed to installment plans, leading to the restoration of their water connections. Some cleared their entire balance immediately, while others paid 50% or 25% and committed to paying the rest in installments.
NPR 4.8 Million Recovered, Additional NPR 2.3 Million Promised by Cheque
Committee Manager Bhawanath Khatri confirmed that the campaign has collected NPR 4,796,255 in cash so far. Additionally, consumers have pledged to pay another NPR 2,354,227 via post-dated cheques by the end of Ashoj (mid-October).
259 Out of 6,000 Connections Cut
Out of the approximately 6,000 active consumers, the committee has disconnected 259 taps. The committee noted that several more consumers are currently in the process of settling their dues.
Manager Khatri emphasized the importance of regular payments to ensure sustainable water service delivery. He warned, “If consumers fail to pay on time in the future, similarly strict measures will be taken again.”
This campaign, seen as a model of consumer-friendly service delivery at the local level, is expected to promote responsible citizenship and discipline among service users in Bardibas.
