In another relief extended to citizens affected by the demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, the Maharashtra Government on Thursday allowed people in the State to use the old high denomination notes for clearing electricity and water bills, pay Property Tax or any kind of Government dues till the midnight of November 11. The development came a day after the Maharashtra Government had suspended toll collection on State highways and directed the Mumbai Metro management to accept the demonetised high currency notes from commuters for purchase of railway tickets and season passes.
The relief came after the Centre accepted the State Government’s request to allow acceptance of demonetised notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 for settling electricity, water bills, Property Tax and clearance of other Government dues.
“One more step by GoM for citizens’ convenience: GoI accepts GoM’s request to further help citizens by allowing Rs500 and Rs1000 notes for payment of electricity bill, water bill, property tax or any kind of Government dues. This will be implemented with immediate effect,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted.
“Government offices will accept the old notes of Rs500 and Rs1000 as payment to clear dues till tomorrow (11th Nov) midnight. Govt offices all across Maharashtra will work for extra hours till late night for accepting payments(old Rs500 and Rs1000 notes) from citizens,” Fadnavis tweeted.
Meanwhile, the ruling Shiv Sena appeared not so enthusiastic or positive about the success of the demonetisation of the currency notes of the demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000.
“The demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes may have been described as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second surgical strike and it may be an assault on the black money menace, but only future will tell if this step will root out corruption and black money,” the Sena stated in an editorial published in its official mouth-piece “Saamana”.
“After all, corruption is a habit. Till such time this habit is diminished from the minds of certain sections of the people in the society, we will not be able to root out the menace of black money from the society, “ the Sena mouth-piece added.
Meanwhile, the Income Tax department conducted some parts of Mumbai in the wake of reports of alleged profiteering and subsequent tax evasion by traders by converting withdrawn currency notes in an illegal manner.
The IT department conducted searches based on what it called “actionable inputs” that some traders, jewellers, currency exchanges and hawala dealers were making the most of the Centre’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by changing currencies at “discounted” prices.