#3. Innovative water charge collection system, Making lives easier
Moving a step closer to improve quality of life of its residents by integrating urban infrastructure and technology, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation (DWSS) has envisaged and systematically transformed Water Bill Collection System in SAS Nagar creating a simple, effective, faster and secure system.
The driving force for this initiative was to make bill payment process accessible at the doorsteps of consumer which shall enable them with easy access, save time and avoid long queues at bill collection centres. Under this system, Smart hand-held EDC machines are being used to generate bill, receipts and collect payment through cash or via digital payment modes such as UPI, Debit card, Credit card or Net Banking through a secured SMS payment link at their doorsteps.
The system has not only facilitated end users but also DWSS to digitally monitor performance, operation and maintenance with reduced manual efforts of receipt posting and paperwork. The system employs cloud technology to effectively collect, preserve and update revenue on real time basis.
Data preservation in hand-held flash memory is supported for more than 10 years time frame which will help in maintaining records over a long period of time. The system is designed to maintain O&M record fed in the device and capture full details of consumer i.e. who has paid the bill and what is due & penalty if paid after due date etc.
The system has been piloted in all villages of all three blocks of District SAS Nagar. DWSS Villages and Gram Panchayat Water & Sanitation Committees (GPWSCs) are on the forefront of adopting these innovative measures. DWSS field officers and social teams along with revenue collector promoted this
initiative in other villages and showcased that the handheld device can be useful in setting up an efficient billing system. This intervention has led to increase in revenue collection considerably, which earlier in some villages was low and even water connections have also increased.
The improvised system has also generated local employment by appointing revenue collectors. The HDFC Bank has provided every revenue collector of DWSS with a handheld device that operates on billing system offered by the bank and has also provided training on operation and maintenance. The utility has helped to establish a more consumer friendly and an efficient billing & collection system. This system is now being successfully practiced in all Villages of district Mohali where DWSS is operating Water Supply Schemes. It has emerged as an example of best practices that helps in taking full advantage of IT driven opportunities which are easy to operate and maintain.
Paani di Kahaani (ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ) 