47,820 Consumers Across Newly Formed and Upgraded ULBs to Benefit from Three-Year Tariff Relief
Shimla, May 11 — In a move aimed at cushioning residents from the financial impact of recent urban restructuring, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced that newly created and upgraded Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will continue to be billed at rural water supply tariffs for the next three years. The decision is expected to benefit 47,820 consumers across the state.
An official spokesperson confirmed the relief on Sunday, stating that the measure is part of a broader initiative to ensure a smooth transition for residents from rural to urban governance structures. In addition to the continued rural water tariffs, the state has also announced a complete exemption from property tax for residents of these areas.
Major Administrative Restructuring Underway
As part of this restructuring, 14 new Nagar Panchayats have been constituted. These include Sandhol, Dharampur, Baldwara, Banikhet, Khundian, Kotla, Nagrota Surian, Kunihar, Jhandutta, Swarghat, Barsar, Bharari, Bangana, and Shillai.Further, the Municipal Councils of Hamirpur, Una, and Baddi have been upgraded to Municipal Corporations, reflecting their growing urban footprint. Meanwhile, Nadaun and Baijnath-Paprola Nagar Panchayats have been elevated to the status of Municipal Councils.
Shielding Residents from Sudden Urban Costs
With several new areas now falling under the jurisdiction of ULBs through either the creation of new entities or the expansion of existing boundaries, the Himachal government’s relief package is designed to prevent sudden hikes in utility and property costs."The relief extended to these ULBs was aimed at saving the residents from sudden financial burdens due to urban restructuring," the spokesperson added.
This policy marks a significant step by the state government to balance administrative reforms with the socio-economic realities of its transitioning population.
