Banks may collect land tax in State

Revenue Department in talks with banks, says Adoor Prakash

The government is considering collecting land tax through banks, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash told the Assembly on Tuesday.

Replying to questions in the House, he said the Law Department was looking into the provisions of ‘Right to hear’ which makes it mandatory to hear the grievances of the public.

The bank tax collection system would be introduced in two or three villages in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts initially. Talks were on between the Revenue Department and the State Bank of Travancore and Federal Bank, he said.

The decision to rope in banks was taken in view of complaints that Village Officers were not available in the offices. The department was also considering the introduction of SMS alerts for collecting land tax, he said.

Resting places

Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju said wayside resting places would be created along the National Highway stretches being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The plan was to set up restaurants, petrol pumps, medical facilities, and vehicle repair facilities at these places as per the specifications of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The project would be implemented with private partnership and the involvement of agencies like Kudumbasree, he added.

The Minister said the government was examining the High Court verdict regarding the parking of autorickshaws and taxis.