KUWAIT CITY, Dec 11: Over a million users of public services, such as telephone, electricity and water, have failed to pay their bills, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting sources.

Sources confirmed the Cabinet has instructed the ministries of Electricity, Water, Communications and Finance, and the Kuwait Municipality, to be strict in the collection of unpaid bills. Sources said the executive asked these institutions to send final notices to the defaulters and take legal action in case they fail to heed the warning. Sources disclosed the government expressed concern over the inability of the institutions to collect such a huge amount through which it loses a large percentage of its revenues.

In a related development, the State Audit Bureau criticized the collection method being used by the Ministry of Electricity and Water, considering its failure to collect KD 300 million from consumers. The bureau advised the ministry to take legal action against those who have not paid their bills for five years.