₹25 Tax per Toilet Seat in Urban Households? Himachal Govt Sparks Row with Fee Order

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has stirred a controversy with its recent announcement of charging a fee of Rs 25 for each toilet seat constructed in urban households. As per reports, the government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, currently facing a financial crisis, issued a notification regarding the sewerage and water bill. 

The new toilet seat fee will be added to the sewerage bill, which is set at 30 per cent of the water bill, and both fees will go to the Jal Shakti Department. Starting in October. Meanwhile, the Himachal government has also begun charging Rs 100 per month for each water connection, a change from the previous lack of billing.

This decision has drawn widespread criticism from BJP leaders. Taking a jibe at the Congress -led Himachal government, BJP spokesperon Shehzad Poonawalla said, “This is the zenith of the 'khatakhat' model of the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi that now even toilets are not out of reach of this party. After petrol, diesel, milk, water, bus fares, and stamp duty, everything has been taxed after the Congress has come to power in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka... Big promises were made, and instead of fulfilling them, people were being made to pay the price. Salaries and pensions of employees cannot be paid.”

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed her disapproval on X, stating, “Unbelievable, if true! Whilst PM 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!”

Following this, Jal Shakti Department of the Himachal Pradesh government said “No such notification has been issued by the present government that sewerage connections will be given on the basis of the number of seats installed by the building owner. Sewerage connections will continue to be provided as before. Recently notification has been issued only regarding water charges, while all other things will remain the same.”