Now, you can pay water, electricity bills using old Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes

Old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can be used by people towards making payment for utility services like water and electricity till November 11 midnight, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

"Such old notes to be accepted for payment of utility charges like water and electricity till November 11 midnight. Records to be maintained," Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said in a tweet.

The old Rs 500 and 1,000 notes will also be accepted for payment of fees, charges, taxes, and penalty to central and state governments, including municipalities and local bodies, Das tweeted.

The government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes effective November 8 midnight. But, it announced, these notes shall not cease to be legal tender till November 11 for providing public convenience in carrying out certain emergency and urgent transactions.

A government notification had earlier said that the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can be used for making payments in government hospitals, pharmacies in government hospitals, at railway ticketing counters, ticket counters of government or public sector undertaking buses and airline ticketing counters at airports for purchase of tickets till November 11.

The notification of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, stated that these notes can be used "for purchases at consumer cooperative stores operated under authorisation of the central or state governments, for purchase at milk booths operating under authorisation of the central or state governments, for purchase of petrol, diesel and gas at the stations operating under the authorisation of public sector oil marketing companies, and for payments at crematoria and burial grounds".

The notification specified that all establishments allowed to carry transaction till November 11 will have to maintain a complete account of record of stock and sale of transactions made with old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes.