Rajouri, Jan 31: The Jal Shakti (PHE) Division Rajouri has intensified efforts to recover pending water tax as nearly ₹12 crore remains outstanding from consumers across the district, officials said.
In an order as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, In order to ensure timely realization of water tax from the general public residing in various areas of District Rajouri falling under the jurisdiction of Jal Shakti (PHE) Division Rajouri and with the objective of providing maximum convenience to consumers it is hereby ordered that all Assistant Executive Engineers of PHE Sub-Divisions H/Q, Koteranka, and West shall immediately establish dedicated water tax collection centres at Darhal, Thanamandi, Koteranka, Khawas, and Manjakote.
Each water tax collection centres shall function under the direct supervision of at least one (01) Junior Engineer, who shall be responsible for ensuring proper management, transparency, and smooth functioning of the collection process, it reads.
The establishment of these collection centres are to reduce unnecessary travel and time consumption to consumers. All concerned officers and officials shall ensure strict compliance with these instructions, it reads.
This order shall come into force with immediate effect, reads the order.
Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Rajouri, Engineer Sudesh Bhagat, in an exclusive interaction stated that an amount of approximately ₹12 crore is currently pending as water tax/charges to be recovered from consumers.
He informed that around ₹50 lakh has already been collected, while the department has set a target of collecting ₹2 crore before March 31.
Engineer Sudesh Bhagat appealed to all consumers to clear their pending dues at the earliest. He especially urged government employees to make timely payments and obtain an NOC from the department, so that there is no hindrance in the release of their salaries. (KNC)
