Local sources report that the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is set to begin collecting electricity bills and garbage tax in Lashio city in Shan State.
Lashio residents say that the MNDAA will start collecting electricity bills and garbage tax in early January 2025 in certain wards under their control where electricity has been restored.
“We still don’t have electricity back at our house. Other areas have it now, but not our ward. They’re going to start collecting electricity bills from the beginning of the year. That’s what we’ve heard so far, and they’ll collect waste management tax too,” said a woman from Lashio in her 30s.
While some wards in Lashio have had electricity restored since September last year, electricity bills have not been collected yet. The electricity rate will start at around 1,500 kyats per unit from January, residents say.
“If they are going to start collecting electricity fees, every household should have it. But not all wards have electricity yet. We want everyone to have electricity back. We need power to work and do business. We already pay shop rent and trading taxes. Don’t even mention the rising transport costs. Now there’s going to be a garbage tax too,” said a female small business owner in Lashio.
Attempts to contact Lashio reconstruction officials regarding the MNDAA’s plans to collect electricity and waste management taxes received no response.
Local sources report that the MNDAA began repairing the 33 KV main power line and posts damaged during fighting in September last year, restoring electricity to the night market and some wards.
According to an MNDAA statement, the military’s air strikes in October 2024 damaged the control rooms and power lines at the Nam Hmyaw and Nar Ma Hkaw hydropower plants in Lashio Township, halting hydroelectric power generation.
Sent by Shan News.
