Bid to shore up Kerala's tax collection

Efforts to tide over financial difficulties

The government proposes to step up tax collection to tide over financial difficulties.

Collection of arrears would be intensified and measures taken to clear court stays on revenue collection, Minister for Information and Public Relations K.C. Joseph told mediapersons after a Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.

The State faced no financial crisis but revenue collection had slumped.

There was a considerable increase in Plan expenditure this year and no cut in the State’s annual Plan was proposed. In February, Plan expenditure stood at 63 per cent in block panchayats, 50 per cent in grama panchayats, and 35 per cent in city Corporations. Figures for the State Plan expenditure as in February were not available, he said.

Arrears in payment of all welfare funds would be cleared this month. Bills on public works were also being paid. The State could still float public bonds as the limit for the financial year had not been reached. District Collectors had been asked to examine the possibility of mining sand from reservoirs, he added.

Muziris project

A company would be set up to implement the Muziris Heritage Project.

The project was a tourism venture aimed at reinstating the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris at Kodungalloor.

The company would have Minister for Tourism A.P. Anilkumar; members of the Assembly representing the project area V.D. Satheesan (Paravur), T.N. Pratapan (Kodungalloor), and S. Sarma (Vypeen); Secretary and Director of Tourism; Director of Archaeology; and Special Officer for the Project as members on the Director Board.

The Cabinet also decided to sanction a government arts and science college at Kongad in Palakkad district as part of the policy to have colleges in all Assembly constituencies. There were still 22 such constituencies in the State.

The new college would offer B.A. courses in English and Mathematics besides bachelor’s courses in Commerce as well as Business Administration.

The Cabinet sanctioned four posts of teachers in Malayalam at the Kozhikode Government Arts and Science College and a post of teacher in Islamic History at the Malappuram Government Arts and Science College.

It decided to give 54 cents belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD) on lease to the Kerala Civil Service Academy to start a sub-centre.

The Institute of Human Resources Development will be given about 80 cents at Chingoly in Alappuzha district for the development of a college.