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The Himachal Pradesh government's recent announcement regarding a tax levied on the number of toilet seats in a household has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows across the country. The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government, facing a financial crunch, issued a notification stating that residents in urban areas would be charged Rs 25 per toilet seat, in addition to the sewerage and water bills. This move has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who labelled it as 'bizarre' and indicative of 'crap leadership'.
The government's notification, issued on September 20, specifies that the sewerage bill will be 30% of the water bill. For those using their own water sources but relying on government sewerage connections, a monthly fee of Rs 25 per toilet seat will apply. However, the Himachal Pradesh Jal Shakti Department later clarified in a press release that the notification was concerning water charges, not sewerage connections, and there would be no change in providing sewerage connections. The department reiterated its commitment to achieving 100% sewerage connectivity in the state.
The controversy surrounding the 'toilet seat tax' reflects the ongoing political rivalry between the Congress and BJP in Himachal Pradesh. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to social media to express her disapproval, highlighting the irony of taxing toilets while Prime Minister Narendra Modi promotes Swachh Bharat (Clean India) initiatives. The BJP IT Cell head, Amit Malviya, echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the Congress government for imposing a tax on something that the Modi government is actively promoting.
The introduction of this new tax in Himachal Pradesh has fueled concerns about the potential financial burden on urban residents, particularly those with multiple bathrooms in their homes. While the Jal Shakti Department clarified that the notification was not related to sewerage connection requirements, the confusion and public outcry surrounding the issue have put the Congress government on the defensive. The BJP is expected to capitalize on this controversy, using it as ammunition against the Congress in the upcoming elections.
Source: How Many Toilet Seats Do You Have? Himachal Govt Will Tax You Accordingly