Himachal Pradesh imposes 'toilet seat tax' on urban residents
The government of Himachal Pradesh has introduced a new tax for its urban residents, based on the number of toilet seats in their homes. This decision comes as the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led administration grapples with a financial crisis. A recent government notification outlines that each toilet seat will incur a fee of ₹25, to be included with the sewerage bill and transferred to the Jal Shakti Department's account.
New sewerage bill calculations and water charges
The government notification further clarifies that the sewerage bill will now constitute 30% of the water bill. Residents who source their own water but utilize the government's sewerage connection are required to pay a monthly charge of ₹25 per toilet seat. The Sukhu government has also introduced a monthly water bill of ₹100 per connection, starting from October.
New tax to affect large population in Himachal Pradesh
The new tax is set to affect a significant portion of the state's population. Himachal Pradesh is home to five municipal corporations, 29 municipalities, and 17 Nagar Panchayats, collectively housing around 10 lakh people. The Congress Party came to power by winning 40 of the 68 assembly segments in December 2022. It had promised the restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS), five lakh jobs, 300 units of free electricity, and ₹1,500 monthly allowance for women.
