Dues to be collected as arrears of previous property tax
TNR News Network
Shimla: Residents in urban local bodies across Himachal Pradesh will now have to pay user charges without delay, as any non-payment will be recovered as arrears along with the previous year’s property tax. The provision forms a key part of the Himachal Pradesh Municipalities (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed by voice vote in the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala, amending the 1994 Act.
The Bill also clarifies that if any municipal area or a portion of it is declared a Municipal Corporation during the winter session of a Municipal Council, the term of the Council members will remain intact until the body completes its tenure or is dissolved. Additionally, a fresh clause mandates that the Deputy Commissioner must accept the resignation of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson within 15 days.
Another significant reform routes the audit of all municipal records through the state Audit Department, enhancing accountability and financial scrutiny.
Hefty fines, daily penalties sharply revised
In a sweeping overhaul, penalties across more than 30 sections have been revised upward. Fines that previously stood at ₹200, ₹500, ₹1,000, or ₹2,000 can now range between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000, depending on the nature of the violation. Daily penalties—which were earlier capped at ₹50 or ₹100—have been increased to ₹500 per day for continued non-compliance.
Stricter punitive measures have been introduced for unauthorized construction, illegal commercial activities, and violations in Municipal Corporation areas. Minimum fines have now been defined in several provisions for the first time—ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000. In select offences, the jail term has been extended from six months to one year, signaling the government’s zero-tolerance approach.
Penalty raised for polluting water sources, illegal disposal
Dumping garbage or waste within 50 feet of streams, wells, ponds, water reservoirs, or natural sources will now attract a fine between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000. Failure to remove waste even after notice will lead to an additional penalty of ₹500 per day.
Similarly, burial or cremation at non-designated sites without municipal approval will also draw fines up to ₹5,000. Activities such as melting fat, cleaning raw hide, or boiling bones and meat without authorization have been prohibited.
Conducting cinema or stage performances outside designated premises without prior permission will invite penalties as well. Establishing brick kilns, fuel storage, new factories, or workshops without approval will also lead to enhanced penalties.
The government maintains that the revised regulatory framework aims to modernise municipal governance, enforce accountability and align urban civic discipline with contemporary public health and environmental needs.
