To streamline water usage and billing, and bring down water losses in the state, the Punjab Local Government Department is all set to present to the state cabinet some important policy notifications for its approval.An official spokesperson said after a meeting of the Local Government department, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, that the minister in charge, Navjot Singh Sidhu, would lay the notifications before the cabinet at its next meeting to take its approval for implementation.The Water Meter Policy will ensure at least 90% billing on water supply and sewerage charges and also provide for making an action plan to reduce water losses to less than 20% and publish the same on the official website.The minister will also seek approval for adoption of a policy on user charges for individual and institutional assessments, in which a differential rate is charged for water use and adequate safeguards are included to take care of the interests of the vulnerable, said the spokesperson.These policy initiatives, he said, were part of the state government’s efforts to bring urban development mission work on track and ensure 100% basic civic amenities for the citizens of Punjab.Underlining the need for innovative measures to tackle the state’s water problem, the Chief Minister suggested shifting to surface water supply in areas like Ludhiana and Jalandhar on account of the drying up and contamination of tubewell water.