Thalassery Archbishop lashes out at govt for rise in land tax 

KANNUR: Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany has strongly criticized the increase in land tax in the state budget. He openly said the increase in land tax is proof that the government does not respect farmers. His remarks were at the Catholica Congress Thalassery Archdiocese leadership meet.

'If the minister considers increasing the tax on the farmer's agricultural land as the biggest source of income for the state, then you do not respect the farmer and do not know the greatness of the farmer. The government's stance is anti-farmer. This stance of trying to squeeze the farmers in order to increase the salary rate of officials is anti-farmer. There were no fundamental stances in the central or the Kerala government's budget that could support farmers of the hills,' said the archbishop.

In the state budget presented last Friday, the land tax was increased by 50 %. The government is targeting an additional revenue of Rs 100 crore through this. In addition, the government is targeting an additional revenue of Rs 150 crore by increasing the court fees, arbitration, land acquisition reference and public interest litigation and Rs 30 crore by increasing the tax on electric four-wheelers.

The government is targeting an additional revenue of Rs 436 crore through a one-time settlement to collect lease arrears of government land and another Rs 15 crore through the consolidation of motor vehicle tax on contract carriages and stage carriers. All these are matters that directly affect the public. It is estimated that this will have a severe impact on the public, who are already struggling with the burden of life.