Toilet tax in Himachal Pradesh? Himachal Pradesh govt clarifies amid huge row | India News

In response to worries about potential charges linked to the number of toilets in urban households, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu clarified that no such cess has been introduced. The government said that the notification in question was outdated and had been retracted on the same day it was released.

New Delhi: Amid growing public and political backlash over reports of a potential “toilet tax” for urban residents, the Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has refuted claims of introducing such a levy.

Responding to concerns that the state might impose charges based on the number of toilets in urban households, the Chief Minister said that no such cess had been implemented. After media outlets circulated reports about this so-called “toilet tax,” the government clarified that the notification in question was old and had been retracted on the “same day” it was issued.

Sewerage charge notification withdrawn

“The notification was released on September 21 regarding sewerage charges but was withdrawn on the same day following an objection from the Deputy Chief Minister,” said Himachal Pradesh’s Additional Chief Secretary Omkar Sharma. He further said that while sewerage fees are already in place in Shimla, particularly for hotels and certain institutions, a fresh notification will be issued soon. The previous notification was linked to drinking water in rural areas, he added.

Addressing the media reports, the Jal Shakti Department of Himachal Pradesh said, “The current government has not issued any notification suggesting that sewerage connections would be provided based on the number of toilet seats in a building. Sewerage connections will be provided as they have been previously. Recently, a notification was only issued concerning water charges, and no other changes have been made.”

Controversial fee proposal

The controversy started from an earlier government notification that allegedly proposed a fee of Rs 25 per toilet seat for urban households. The additional charge, to be collected along with the sewerage bill, was reportedly meant to be directed to the Jal Shakti Department.

According to reports, the withdrawn notification also said that sewerage charges would be 30 per cent of the water bill and those using private water sources but relying on government sewerage connections would have to pay Rs 25 per toilet seat each month. The divisional officers allegedly had been instructed to implement these orders.

In Himachal Pradesh, water bills of Rs 100 per month per connection have been introduced from October by the Congress government, replacing the BJP’s promise of free water. Controversy arose over an alleged ‘toilet seat’ tax, which the Jal Shakti Department has denied, clarifying that no new sewerage rules were imposed, though a Rs 25 per seat fee was mentioned in a recent notification.

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