KANNUR: Building tax on even chicken coop. Tommy Michael, a poultry farmer in Taliparamba Chandanakampara, received a notice from the revenue department to pay ₹46,000. Tommy Michael, who is supposed to get a huge sum of money for supplying broilers to the government's Kerala Chicken, stopped his business as well. Tommy has a 2500 square feet shed. The revenue department says that cages up to one thousand square feet are exempted from tax and building tax is applicable for the ones above that area. The Revenue Department is backstabbing small entrepreneurs when the Industries Department is trying hard to encourage them.

The revenue department has sent notices to about 3,000 poultry farmers. There are notices instructing people to pay taxes ranging from twenty thousand to half a lakh, and there is a warning that they will face attachment procedures if they don't pay. The notices have been sent by the Tehsildars on the basis of the reports given by a team consisting of Deputy Tehsildars and Village Officers after measuring the cages.

Poultry farms in Kerala: 3000

Poultry farming will be abandoned

• 40 farmers of Wayanad shifted their local establishment to Karnataka region.
• Around 100 farmers bought land to start farms in neighboring states.
• Free water and electricity in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• Up to 50 percent subsidy on bank loans in both states.
• The loan will be delivered at home. Pollution licenses can be obtained in one day.

Financial liability in Kerala

• 1000 per worker in Kerala
• Tamil Nadu, Karnataka- 400 Rs
• Production cost in Kerala (Kg)- Rs.90-100
• Tamil Nadu, Karnataka- 40 - 50 Rs

'If departments like revenue continue to take an anti-farmer stance, chicken farmers will have to leave Kerala.'

-Tommy Michael,

State Vice President,

Kerala Chicken Farmers Federation

'Notices have been sent to collect the revised building tax from poultry farms exceeding the prescribed dimensions. If there is a complaint, the authorities can be approached.'

-P Sajeevan
Tehsildar, Taliparamba