Eagerness to raise building tax: less than half collected

1862 crores yet to be received from 14 districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the government has decided to increase the building tax by 5% annually, the local bodies are very easygoing in collecting the tax on time. Figures show that with two months left before the end of the current financial year, not even half of the tax due has been received in any district. 1862 crores to be collected from 14 districts.

Building tax is to be paid once in six months, but not even timely notice is given. Even in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts where building complexes and business establishments are abundant tax collection is lagging. Many government institutions and large private institutions do not pay properly or the concerned officials are not taking initiative to collect as well.

Pathanamthitta is leading in the collection with 47.4%. Ernakulam is last with 20.66%. Kollam is leading among the corporations with 35.36% collected. Thrissur Corporation is last with only 1.08% collected so far.

Among the municipalities in the state, Kozhikode is ahead in building tax collection with 48.66% collected so far and Ramanattukara is the last with 0.01%.

Two panchayats have collected 100 percent building tax. Kannur Peralassery and Kasaragod Valiyaparamba. Thiruvananthapuram Cherunniyoor is the last among the panchayats (12.26%).

Building tax
(received, collected, pending- in Crores)

Thiruvananthapuram..........446.16, 102.17, 343.99
Kollam...........................110.72, 49.94, 60.81
Pathanamthitta...................63.29, 29.98, 33.28
Alappuzha........................120.36, 32.69, 87.71
Kottayam.........................159.69, 39.58, 120.09
Idukki...........................50.06, 20.35, 29.65
Ernakulam................ 700.21, 144.62, 555.52
Thrissur...........................257.48, 59.72, 197.73
Palakkad...................124.14, 49.25, 74.87
Malappuram..........................138.62, 61.93, 76.67
Kozhikode.................204.45, 70.20, 134.23
Wayanad.........................41.82, 16.39, 25.43
Kannur..........................140.40, 58.68, 81.72
Kasaragod.................48.34, 20, 28.33