Himachal CM Sukhu Rejects Claims of 'Toilet Tax' in State

Amid backlash, CM Sukhu asserts no 'toilet tax' exists in state, while BJP leaders criticise the Congress government for imposing charges on basic sanitation services.

Shima (Himachal Pradesh): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Friday denied reports of imposition of Rs 25 toilet tax in the state and termed it "baseless".

"We are charging Rs 1,00 per family for the water connection and it is also not compulsory. There is no such thing as toilet tax," CM Sukhu told reporters.

However, a notification to this effect was prepared by the Jal Shakti department on September 21 and it was taken back on the same day. Omkar Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Jal Shakti department said, "The notification which was prepared on September 21 was sent to the Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who holds the Jal Shakti Department. The Deputy Chief Minister believed that the terminology of 25 rupees toilet fee sounded a bit strange. In such a situation, it was withdrawn and a new notification was prepared, which will be uploaded soon."

Sharma added that a water bill was sent to houses in the rural areas of the state but the practise was stopped after the Congress government came to power. "Now just Rs 100 per connection is charged in rural areas. In the urban areas, 30 per cent of the water bill is taken as sewage tax," said Sharma.

The move had drawn ire from the BJP, with even Union Ministers lambasting the Congress government in the state for imposing taxes on basic amenities. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman led the charge in slamming the Sukhu government and said, "unbelievable if true".

"Unbelievable, if true! Whilst PM Modiji 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," she posted on X.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya termed the move as "bizarre" and sarcastically said: "This is what a crap government does." The Himachal Pradesh CM also told media persons that a Rs 100 charge was applicable per family, however, it was not mandatory.

"Even big hotel chains have been brought under the purview of this new tax. Those questioning the move must understand the economics first," said CM Sukhu. He also trained guns on the previous BJP regime and accused it of "emptying" the government's coffers by offering "free revadis" of Rs 5,000 crore. He also urged the BJP to desist from "politicising" the issue.