Till Friday, Use Rs 500, Rs 1,000 Notes For Water, Power Bills, Penalties

New Delhi: Banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes can be used to pay water and electricity bills, property taxes and other penalty to the government till Friday, the centre today said.

"Old 500, 1000 notes to be accepted for payment of fees, charges, taxes, penalty to central and state governments, including municipalities and local bodies," tweeted Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.

Old 500 & 1000 notes to be accepted for payment of fees,charges,taxes,penalty to Central & State govts including municipalities,local bodies

- Shaktikanta Das (@DasShaktikanta) November 10, 2016

Earlier, the government had allowed the old notes for petrol stations, cooking gas cylinders, train and air tickets, hospitals, medicines and metros. Toll booths have also been asked to accept the notes.

Now, the facility has been extended to utility bills and other dues paid to the government,

"Above facilities to be available till November 11 midnight. Records to be maintained," Mr Das tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that the two highest currency notes would not be legal anymore. As banks reopened two days after the decision, there were long queues of people rushing to deposit and exchange their banned currency notes.

Many banks have started giving new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.