Govt gives defaulters another month to pay up civic charges

Addressing a press conference here today,Kalia said,“The defaulters of water bills and sewerage charges,who have not paid their bills for years,if they pay the bills in the month of March then they will not be charged the penalty on the actual amount. This way,the government hopes to collect Rs 10 crore and of the collected money 30 per cent will be spent on buying machinery and equipment for the local bodies department.”

“The limit of house tax has been increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 60,000 for widows,freedom fighters,ex-servicemen,gallantry award winners and people aged above 70 years with effect from April 2010. Thus now,if people in any of these categories get rent from their properties up to Rs 60,000 per year,they will not be taxed,” said Kalia.

He said that e-tendering has been introduced in the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board. On the political front,when Kalia was asked about seat sharing with alliance partner Akali Dal,as the BJP wants more seats in the forthcoming assembly elections,Kalia tried to evade the question and only said that it is an internal matter with the Akali Dal.