Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) [India], August 6 (HBTV): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday launched the Water Bill app developed by the Department of Public Health Engineering & Water Sanitation (PHE&WS), enabling citizens to pay their water bills online without having to visit government offices.

As a pilot project, the app will initially be available for consumers in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR).

Lauding the department for its digital initiative, the Chief Minister described the app as a step that brings essential public services closer to the people. ‘For the people in Itanagar Capital Region, paying a water bill will no longer mean taking half a day off work or standing in a long queue. Now, it’s just a few taps on a phone, a few clicks on a screen,’ he said.

Khandu urged the department to expand the service beyond ICR and integrate digital systems for water connections, billing, and grievance redressal across all district headquarters in Arunachal Pradesh.

‘But this shouldn’t be just about Itanagar. It has to be part of a larger vision to bring digital systems for water connections, billing, and grievance redressal to every District Headquarters in Arunachal Pradesh,’ he added.

Highlighting the benefits of digitalisation, the Chief Minister said that online bill payments enhance revenue collection and promote transparency. He encouraged all revenue-generating departments of the state government to adopt similar systems. ‘Digital revenue collection is transparent, happens in real time, and there is no leakage. But the best part is accessibility and ease of payment by the consumers,’ he said.

Khandu also reviewed the department’s ongoing projects, future plans, and challenges. While assuring the state government's support in terms of funds and manpower, he recommended hiring trained personnel even for contingency posts.

‘Take in youths who have passed out from our ITIs. They are technically capable. All work departments should do the same. Recruit ITI pass-outs even if it is a contingency or MTS post. This way, our youths would opt for the ITIs established across the state. They will get employment and you will get technicians,’ he said.

PHE&WS Minister Mama Natung, Advisor Pani Taram, Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, and departmental officials were present during the launch.

(ANI)