If tax collection goes down, scheme share will be reduced

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister MB Rajesh said that if the local bodies are easygoing in collecting building tax, the scheme allocation given by the government every year will be reduced. The recommendation of Finance Commission in this regard is being considered for implementation from the next financial year. Guidelines will be issued for this purpose. Kerala Kaumudi had reported yesterday that local bodies have not collected even half of the building tax to be collected in the current financial year. The minister's response followed.

Local bodies cannot move forward without increasing their own revenue. Some local bodies are doing exemplary work in tax collection. Vadakara Municipality has done remarkable work in this regard. Unlike other states, Kerala provides the highest amount of project allocation to local bodies. But we cannot move forward in the future with that alone.