PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
To enhance services, the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) is working on a unified software solution for water billing and additional facilities. This software will be utilised for public services by both the Peyjal Nigam and Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS), the secretary (Appraisal) at UJS Maneesh Semwal said.
Semwal said that UJS has had a software system in place since 2011, allowing residents of the State to conveniently pay their water bills and apply for new connections, among other functionalities. However, with the introduction of the Jal Jeevan Mission, many new connections have been established in the State. As a result, numerous connections have transitioned to Peyjal Nigam, which is also responsible for collecting revenue through water bills from consumers. Considering this, the authorities have decided to develop a new joint software system for the UJS and Peyjal Nigam, enabling residents to pay their bills, apply for new connections and access additional services. He said that there are 10 lakh connections associated with the Peyjal Nigam, whereas the UJS has seven lakh connections for the same purpose.
The software has been in development for the past three months. It is currently complete but undergoing testing and trials. The system is expected to be implemented and available to customers during the next billing cycle, he said.
Semwal further added that the software will be accessible to customers through the government website.
Additionally, this 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. Common service centre facilities and other services will also be available, he said.
