Shimla, Jun 28
Shimla Nagrik Sabha(SNS) has decided to lodge protest against inflated power, water, garbage & property tax bills, tomorrow. They state that Shimla Municipal Corporation and Electricity Board should stop the collection or waive off the charges immediately. SNS president, Vajinder Mehra & secretary Kapil Sharma said in a press statement issued here today .
They said that the public were expecting respite and relief but instead were issued inflated power water, garbage and property tax bills without giving enough time to them to arrange the money during the lock down.
They alleged that four months power bills were issued at one go, by the board inflating the charges many folds which exceeds the normal charges. ” If the power bills had been issued on the monthly basis it would be four to five times less from the issued bills” SNS alleged.
” Instead of helping them from the Prime minister Relief fund and PM care fund people are being forced to pay heavy charges by the state and its agencies”they alleged. SNS also claimed that during the lockdown around 70 percent people lost their employment or source of livelihood.
SNS said that all hotels and restaurants are closed in town forcing five thousand to directly lose their livelihood. Tourism activities are stand still and thousands of Taxi drivers,Coolies, Guides, tour & travel operators have lost their self-employment avenues.
Forty percent trade and business were governed by the tourism & hospitality industry which had completely decimated . Thousands of vendors and small and marginal traders and businessmen are ruined. Also hundreds of Salesmen have also lost their livelihood. Workers and labour working with private industry, enterprises and construction are idles without any jobs, they added.
When half of the population is striving hard to meet and earn their two square meals they are being burdened by state authorities. All including SMC are turning away from their social welfare responsibility of public welfare, the alleged.
They have also demanded to waiver of entire charges till June 2020.
