Punjab Plans New Force to Collect Sanitation Charges

The Punjab government is proposing the creation of a new force under the Excise and Taxation Department to enhance the collection of sanitation taxes and charges throughout the province, City42 news channel reported, citing official documents. The proposal outlines the need for 305 additional positions in the Excise and Taxation Department, including 300 Excise and Taxation Constable posts at Grade 5.

This new force would be responsible for collecting sanitation charges from approximately 4.7 million properties across Punjab. To ensure effective collection, officials have suggested deploying seven to eight constables in each district. The force would also be tasked with issuing sanitation charge bills, following up with those who miss payments, and recovering outstanding dues.

A proposed leadership structure includes one director and four deputy directors to oversee the operations of the new force. The initiative would specifically support the Suthra Punjab Program, overseen by the Director General of Excise and Taxation. Officials have also proposed equipping the force with 300 electric motorcycles for field operations, in addition to one 1,300cc car and four Cultus cars for monitoring and enforcement purposes.

The government has requested a budget of Rs. 113 million to cover the acquisition of these 300 electric motorcycles and the five vehicles. Officials are also exploring the possibility of a supplementary grant to cover the salaries and other associated expenses of the new positions and vehicles.