As of May 1, 2025, the Goa government has officially ended the “zero bill scheme”—a policy introduced in August 2021 that exempted households using under 16,000 litres of water per month from paying any water bill.
Nearly half of Goa’s households benefited from this initiative, which helped families manage their finances during a time of uncertainty and economic strain.
While the end of this scheme was not unexpected, what remains troubling is the lack of improvement in the one thing citizens truly need: a regular and clean water supply.
Freebies were never the goal. Goans, like all Indians, are pragmatic. They understand that subsidies cannot last forever. But in return, they expect the basics to be in place—especially something as essential as drinking water.
The zero bill scheme may have been a generous gesture, but it did not solve the deeper, structural issue: erratic and insufficient water supply across the state.
For many, water availability is still limited to a few hours a day, for some after every two days, and even then, the quality is inconsistent.
What citizens require is not charity, but reliability and dignity in basic services.
The right to clean water is not a luxury—it is a fundamental human right. Goans are not asking for a 24×7 supply, although that should remain a long-term goal.
What they are asking for is at least four hours of consistent drinking water supply every day. This is not an unreasonable demand. It is the bare minimum that a functioning administration must ensure.
With the end of the free water scheme, the government has made it clear that citizens must now pay for every drop they consume—even those who use modest amounts of water. That is understandable, but it also places a new responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the administration.
If people are now paying for their water, the state must guarantee that what they are paying for is worth it: water that is available regularly, and safe to consume. Anything less would be unjust.
Goa has long struggled with water distribution issues.
From villages that see taps run dry for days to urban centres where pipelines are decades old and leak more than they deliver, the problems are systemic. Add to this the growing pressures of tourism, construction, and climate change, and it becomes clear that the water crisis is no longer looming—it is here.
Ending the zero bill scheme should have been accompanied by a roadmap to improve water infrastructure. If households are now paying, then the revenue collected must be transparently invested in upgrading the state’s water supply system—repairing old pipelines, setting up modern treatment plants, and ensuring equitable distribution.
This would not only justify the end of subsidies but also restore public trust.
Moreover, the government must communicate clearly why the scheme was discontinued.
Silence or vague justifications erode confidence. If the policy was unsustainable, say so. If there were misuses or inefficiencies, address them.
The people of Goa are capable of understanding the challenges their government faces—but they deserve transparency and accountability in return.
Water is too vital a resource to be subject to short-term populist policies. It requires long-term vision, planning, and consistent execution.
The focus must now shift from free water to fair water—fair in access, fair in quality, and fair in cost.
Hence, the people of Goa are not asking for handouts.
They are simply asking for what any citizen should expect from their government: clean water, delivered regularly, with dignity. The free water may be gone—but the responsibility to provide dependable water remains. Let this be an opportunity to build a better, more equitable water system for all.
