PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The development of the unified software solution for water billing and additional facilities is in its final phase, with its introduction anticipated this month, the secretary (Appraisal) at Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS), Maneesh Semwal said.
The Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) has been working for a few months on this unified software solution to improve services. This software will serve public needs for both the UJS and Peyjal Nigam. Semwal said that UJS has had a software system operational since 2011, enabling residents in the State to easily pay their water bills and request new connections, among other features. However, the rollout of the Jal Jeevan Mission has led to the establishment of numerous new connections across the State. As a result, many water connections have transitioned to Peyjal Nigam, which is responsible for collecting revenue through water bills from consumers. In light of this, the authorities decided to develop a new joint software system for both the UJS and Peyjal Nigam. This system will enable residents to pay their bills, apply for new connections and access additional services. The Peyjal Nigam manages about 10 lakh connections, while UJS has approximately seven lakh connections, he said.
Regarding the current status of the software, Semwal informed that it has reached its final phase. Currently, data uploading is in progress for this software and it is expected to be introduced in February. Initially, the software will be brought on board in phases. Under this plan, the new connections for Peyjal Nigam under the Jal Jeevan Mission will be uploaded first, followed by the gradual uploading of UJS data into the software, he said. According to officials, the software will benefit customers in many ways, as it will serve as a single-window system. Customers will be able to pay their bills from anywhere and apply for connections without having to visit the offices.
