Himachal Pradesh government introduces ‘Toilet Seat Tax’ amid financial crisis
The Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh has directed to send a water bill of Rs.100 per connection per month.
The citizens of Himachal Pradesh will now be taxed according to the number of toilet seats they possess at home, under what is being called the “Toilet Seat Tax.” The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government which is at present in a state of financial destitution in the state has recently come out with a notification in this regard.
The government notification regarding sewerage and water bill on September 20 says that the charges of Rs 25 have to be deposited for each toilet seat constructed in the houses of urban persons. These new charges will also be added to the sewerage bill and will form a part of Jal Shakti Department account.
Therefore, according to the government announcement, the sewerage bill is equivalent to 30 percent of the water bill. Those who draw water from their own source and only get connection of sewerage from the department concerned are required to pay Rs 25 per toilet seat per month. The department has directed all divisional officers with the view of this.
Practically, there was no water bill tariff earlier for Himachal Pradesh. The BJP led state government had given a poll promise that it would provide free water if voted to power in the state. But now the Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh has directed to send a water bill of Rs.100 per connection per month. This has started from October.
Now the so-called Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is charging this ‘toilet seat’ tax,Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. Nirmala Sitaraman posted on X “Unbelievable, if true! Whilst PM Modi ji, builds Swachhata as a people’s movement, here is Congress taxing people for toilets! Shame that they didn’t provide good sanitation during their time, but this step will shame the country.”
Amit Malviya , the BJP IT cell head said “In a bizarre move, the Congress Govt in HP will now tax citizens based on the number of toilet seats they have at home. You read that right – number of toilet seats! PM Modi is building toilets, Congress is taxing them. This is what ‘crap’ leadership does.”
In a press release issued by the Himachal Pradesh Jal Shakti Department, they denied such a notification saying the department has not given any such notification projecting that sewerage connections will be provided on the number of seats installed by a building owner. The department sought to assure many a time that there would be no departure from the provision of sewerage connections, and that the government’s goal is to reach 100 percent. The notification that has come out recently was related to the water charges only and nothing else, said the department.
In the said notification there is no mention that sewerage connection has to be taken for every seat. But it was said that under the sewerage connection a charge of Rs 25 per seat for the number of toilets developed in the house would be charged.
The fee for taking domestic sewerage connection charges Rs 500 in Himachal Pradesh and for commercial Rs 1000. It is expected that inhabitants of urban areas will be the most affected by these new government charges. This is so because people always build many washrooms in their homes.
The state of Himachal Pradesh consists of 5 municipal corporations, 29 municipalities and 17 Nagar panchayats for a population of nearly 10 lakhs. Thus the new government order is expected to impact a high population in the state.
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