Don't kill the goose that lays golden eggs 

The motor vehicle department in the state had implemented a new law from November 1 onwards. Tourist buses from other states will have to pay an annual tax of Rs 4000 per seat. As part of implementing it strictly, the department has expedited checking. A group of 34 members came in a tourist bus from Gujarat last week. They had to pay a tax of Rs 15,200 at the Amaravila check post which was affordable. They paid the tax and got the receipt. When the same bus reached Munnar, the transport department demanded them to pay an amount of Rs 91,500 as annual fee. The situation is that a tourist bus from another state will have to pay more than one lakh to enter. If we start levying tax like this, no tourist bus from other state will enter our state.

The motor vehicle department's justification is that they are collecting tax in this way following the approval of the high court. This is something like killing the golden goose. The government can decide on the tax structre despite the high court order. The government should immediately decide that it is sufficient to collect tax by calculating the number of days the tourist buses halt here. Collecting annual tax from them is too much. The more the officials get the power to impose fines, they would be happier that much. They will accept 50,000 instead of one lakh and allow the buses to leave. Our vehicle department is famous for accepting bribe. Tourist buses going from Kerala will have to pay tax in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu etc. It is a relatively small amount. A large number of tourist buses come from states like Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat during the Sabarimala season. If all these vehicles are stopped and levied a lakh each, it will affect even the inter-state relations adversely. Therefore, the cabinet should consider reducing the slab of tax collected before the Sabarimala season. It is not enough to say Athithi Devo Bhava, but act on it.

Kerala gets money the most from other states through tourism. If the government gets peace only if it is removed, then let it be like that. With the advent of GST, the whole of India is taxed the same. Likewise, the central government should bring a law to introduce the same tax system for all vehicles. It will be more convenient for the people. Similarly, the awkward practice of paying tax at one entry point and paying it again in another is not very favorable to a civilized society.