Insertion of new section

After existing section 289 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1979 (9 of 1980) (hereinafter called the principal Act) the following new section 289-A, along with its heading, shall be inserted, namely:-

"289-A. Power of Commissioner to require conversion of service latrines into water flush latrines.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, and the rules or bye-laws framed thereunder, the Commissioner may, subject to such rules as the State Government may make in this behalf, require the owner or occupant of any service latrine, within a period to be specified in the notice, to do so within the specified period, the Commissioner may cause the same to be demolished or closed and converted into water flush latrine.

1. (2) On the failure of the owner or the occupant, as the case may be, to do so within the specified period, the Commissioner may cause the same to be demolished or closed and converted into water flush latrine, and shall recover the cost thereof as arrears of taxes".