The Congress-led government in Himachal Pradesh has been caught in a political storm after it imposed a new tax on toilet seats as part of a strategy to tackle the state’s financial challenges. A notification issued by the government on September 20 announced that residents living in urban areas will now have to pay a fee of Rs 25 for each toilet seat in their homes, triggering a massive backlash from both opposition leaders and the general public.
The Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government, which is grappling with a growing financial crisis, has implemented the new measure as part of sweeping changes in water and sewerage billing. According to the notification, urban residents using government-provided water connections will now have to pay 30 per cent of their water bill as sewerage charges. Additionally, those who depend on private water sources but use government sewerage services will be charged Rs 25 per toilet seat per month. This fee will be collected by the Jal Shakti Department, which has issued instructions to its departmental officials to implement it from October.
The Himachal Pradesh government, which is facing a severe financial crisis, is looking for ways to raise revenue and this new fee is one such effort. The government has also discontinued the free drinking water scheme in rural areas and started installing water meters in both urban and rural institutions. While rural domestic consumers will continue to get water without meters, others in rural areas will now have to pay as per the meter reading. These measures are designed to help the state deal with its financial troubles but have faced a lot of opposition.
The new tax has been sharply criticised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed disbelief over the policy, saying on social media, “Unbelievable if it is true! While PM Modi is making Swachhata a people’s movement, Congress is taxing people for toilets! Shame they did not provide good sanitation during their tenure, but this move will shame the country!” He posted on X.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala also criticised the government’s decision, writing, “Now Congress won’t even let you go to the toilet in peace! Tax there too!! Himachal Pradesh government imposes toilet seat tax on urban residents!”
In response to this criticism, the Himachal Pradesh Jal Shakti Department issued a clarification, stating that the tax is not imposed on sewerage connections but is an additional charge based on the number of toilet seats in households. The department emphasised that there has been no change in the way sewerage connections are provided and the government aims to achieve 100 per cent connectivity in urban areas. The clarification also stated that the notification pertains to adjustment of service charges for sewerage and water connections, and not a direct imposition of “toilet tax”.
Himachal Pradesh is currently facing significant financial difficulties, with the government looking for ways to raise revenue. The toilet seat tax is one of the many steps taken in this direction. However, the controversy surrounding this new policy threatens to complicate its implementation, especially given the sensitive nature of the levy.
With opposition to the tax growing, it remains to be seen whether the Congress government will reconsider or amend this revenue-raising measure in the face of growing public and political criticism.
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