VARANASI, Jan. 20 -- The Varanasi Nagar Nigam has waived off the water tax surcharge by 100 percent for residential and mixed-use buildings in the city. Now, no surcharge will have to be paid on the old water tax until March 31. However, commercial buildings have been kept out of the purview of this exemption. The decision was taken in the VNN general body meeting held on Monday at Town Hall in Maidagin, under the chairmanship of mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari. The mayor ordered the issuance of revised bills by the end of this month. Deputy chairman Narsingh Das had raised the issue of taxes for Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He argued that since BHU has its own water and sewage treatment plant, it is not appropriate to levy water and sewer tax on them. The house instructed the Municipal Commissioner to issue revised bills by removing water tax, sewer tax, and interest. Agreeing to the deputy chairman's proposal, the House decided to waive off interest and issue a revised bill. Apart from the revised bill, BHU will also have an installment payment facility. In the meeting, under Section 91(2) of the Municipal Corporation Act, corporator Suresh Kumar Chaurasia raised the issue of integrated bills, stating that the Water Department had sent bills including surcharge for several years without any prior notice. He also highlighted that previously, the Water Department used to give a 100 percent exemption on the surcharge under the one-time settlement scheme every year, but this time, the corporation has sent integrated bills for water tax, sewer tax, and house tax. Not only that, the surcharge for several years has been added without any notice. He suggested waiving the surcharge on water tax as before which the House unanimously accepted. The House also agreed to adjust the 'misleading' double connections provided under the Amrit Jal Mission, as per his proposal. Grand welcome gates will be built on all four borders of Varanasi. These pillars will showcase the religious and cultural glimpses of Kashi, giving tourists a unique experience as soon as they enter the municipal limits. Also, the House has given approval to rename the Kajjapura Bridge as Baba Laat Bhairav Bridge. htc...