Did Himachal govt impose 'toilet tax'? Here's what CM Sukhu said

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday called a report claiming that his government imposed a Rs 25 tax per toilet seat "baseless".
Sukhu faced a massive political backlash after a report claimed that his government had imposed a "toilet tax" on the houses of those residing in urban areas of the hill state.
"We are charging Rs 100 per family for water connection and it is also not compulsory.There is no such thing as toilet tax," CM Sukhu said while refuting the report, according to news agency IANS.
The report also claimed that the Sukhu government issued a notification on Thursday to charge water and sewerage bills from the residents and that out of Rs 100 water charge, the "toilet tax" will be 25 per cent per house.
A Himachal official, however, clarified that the notification was issued only to be withdrawn after the deputy CM said "it didn't look right".
"The notification was issued on 21st Sept 2024, regarding the charges in rural as well as urban areas. It was all mentioned in detail. Wherever the sewerage has been installed by the department, the charges will be 30 per cent of the water bill. But a few establishments were such, a few hotels were such that - both in rural and urban areas, where they had their own water scheme. But they used the department sewerage...Since they used their own water system, they were charged on the basis of per seat. But as soon as this notification was issued and the file reached the deputy CM, he said this didn't look right. So, this (notification) was withdrawn. This provision of per seat has been withdrawn," Onkar Chand Sharma, additional chief secretary at Jal Shakti department told news agency ANI.

The matter blew up after Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit out at the Sukhu government over the issue, calling it "unbelievable if true".
"Unbelievable, if true! Whilst PM Modi ji, 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," Sitharaman posted on X.

BJP's national general secretary Tarun Chugh claimed the move was a reflection of the Himachal government's "economic bankruptcy".
"Instead of fulfilling the promises they had made, the old loans that were given are also being taken back. The Himachal government is continuously imposing new taxes and restrictions on the people. This is a reflection of the Himachal government's economic bankruptcy, policy bankruptcy and mental bankruptcy," Chugh told IANS.