Last date to pay power, water bills extended by a month

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Monday clamped a curfew to fight coronavirus, making it the first state to take the drastic measure after finding that many people were ignoring the statewide lockdown ordered by it.

Speaking on the relief measures announced by the state government during curfew, Punjab chief secretary Karan Avtar Singh said that the CM has directed the local government department to defer the due date of making payment of water and sewerage bills by a month in all municipal corporations and councils, besides extending the amnesty scheme on property tax till May 31.

Similarly, the due date for the payment of domestic, commercial and small power industrial consumers having monthly or bimonthly electricity bills up to ₹10,000, which falls on or after March 20, has been extended up to April 15. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been asked not to recover the late payment surcharge from these nearly 35 lakh consumers who would benefit from the move.

TRANSPORT DEPT RELAXES TAX PAYMENTS

The state transport department has decided to extend the due date of payment of all taxes under the Punjab Motor vehicle Taxation Act by a month up to April 30.

Stage and contract carriage vehicles will be given 100% exemption from the motor vehicle tax for the period during which they won’t be allowed to ply. Apart from these, no penalty will be charged for delay with respect to vehicles, which become due for renewal or passing from March 15 to April 15.

PENAL INTEREST ON CROP LOAN WAIVED

The cooperation department has decided to waive penal interest on their crop loan taken from central coop banks and primary agriculture co-op societies for two months (March-April). As per the orders, the farmers can now repay their crop loans till April 30.

₹150 CR FOR PENSIONS

Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh also ordered the social security department to release pensions amounting to ₹150 crore for the month of March immediately. The Punjab government has already released social security pensions to the individual accounts of all beneficiaries up till February, for which ₹296 crore was released on March 21.

ASSISTANCE FOR LABOURERS

The labour department has decided to give financial assistance of ₹3,000 to 3.18 lakh registered construction workers through DBT in their bank accounts, involving expenditure of about ₹96 crore.

AMNESTY SCHEME FOR PROPERTY TAX EXTENDED TILL MAY 31; CONSUMERS CAN NOW CLEAR THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS BY APRIL 15