New Delhi: In a move intended to promote digitisation of payments, the Delhi government has asked all principal secretaries and secretaries to ensure e-payments of electricity, water and telephone bills in their respective departments. The government has asked all heads of departments to start e-payments of telephone charges in offices under their control as the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has agreed to accept the same through electronic mode.
The principal accounts office (PAO) of the Delhi government has written to principal secretaries and secretaries of all departments to promote digitisation of payments of telephone, water and electricity bills.
The PAO has also cited a recent office memorandum of the Union finance ministry where it has asked that payment to telephone companies, electricity/water supply companies/boards, payment of professional tax among others should be paid through electronic advices through GePG/the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
“In order to explore the possibility of payments of electricity, water, telephone charges in respect of government offices through electronic mode, this office has discussed the issues with representatives of Delhi Jal Board, MTNL, BSES, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.
“The electricity companies and DJB have agreed to accept payments throu-gh electronic mode,” the PAO said in the written communication. It stated that the MTNL authorities have agreed to receive payments through electronic mode through the “Group Billing Code” to be obta-ined by respective offices by grouping their telephone bills into one bill.
Earlier in 2017, the government had asked all department heads to promote e-payments and give wide publicity to make people aware of it.
The Delhi government finance department has also issued a circular asking all its departments to adopt a digital mode of payments at the earliest. The move was intended to attain the goal of complete digitisation of government payment.
The officials had then said that the payments could be made through Real-Time Gross Settlem-ent, National Electronic Funds Transfer and Electronic Clearing Service.
